Te Arapa Harrison: Albany man denies rape allegations and granted bail despite alleged threat to witness

An Albany man accused of raping two women has been granted bail despite allegations he sent threatening Snapchat messages to a witness. Te Arapa Harrison, 37, appeared in custody in Albany Magistrates Court on Friday on two charges of sexual penetration without consent. Mr Harrison is accused of raping a woman at a house party in Orana in April after she fell asleep on a couch and woke up to Mr Harrison raping her. The woman went to a friend’s house the next day before going to Albany Health Campus and reporting the alleged rape to police. The court was told Mr Harrison and the victim were not known to each other before the house party. Mr Harrison is also accused of raping a woman when she fell asleep after a gathering at a shearing shed in February. The victim allegedly awoke to Mr Harrison raping her and reported the alleged incident the following day. Mr Harrison’s Legal Aid lawyer Lucy Bourne said her client denies the allegations and will fight the charges at trial in the District Court. Ms Bourne said her client denies raping the woman in February and that the sexual intercourse at the house party in April was consensual. Police prosecutor Sgt Peter Yuswak opposed bail and said Mr Harrison — who is from New Zealand but has lived in Australia for the last 19 years — posed a flight risk. Sgt Yuswak also said no bail conditions were sufficient enough to protect the two victims from the accused who allegedly sent threatening Snapchat messages to a witness. Magistrate Erin O’Donnell said the alleged threats to a witness were concerning but granted bail on the basis of time to trial in the District Court and difficulty in ascertaining if the charges would be tried together. The court imposed protective conditions for the two victims and three witnesses as part of Mr Harrison’s bail conditions as well as a $2000 personal undertaking and a ban on leaving WA. Mr Harrison was also required to undergo counselling and adopt a mental health plan, and banned from consuming alcohol. Mr Harrison will next appear in Albany Magistrates Court on August 15.