A long-running suppression order has been lifted in Victoria, allowing the public identification of Tom Silvagni as the man convicted of raping a woman at his family’s Balwyn North home. The verdict ends months of restricted reporting surrounding the high-profile matter.
Rape Conviction Revealed After Court Order Changes
Tom Silvagni, 23, was found guilty last week of two counts of digital rape committed in January 2024. His identity had been concealed during the two-week County Court trial due to a series of suppression orders that shielded any link to his family’s AFL profile.
Judge Andrew Palmer revoked the order on Thursday, ruling that the legal grounds used to justify the secrecy were no longer applicable. He said the need to preserve the administration of justice had passed now that Silvagni had been convicted and remanded.
The judge also noted the widespread public speculation about the accused’s identity, saying it had become “a matter of common knowledge” across Melbourne.
Incident Inside Family Home Leads to Criminal Charges
The offending took place inside the Silvagni family’s multi-million-dollar Balwyn North house while his parents were away. The court heard that a small group had gathered earlier in the night, with only four people remaining shortly after midnight.
The offending occurred inside the Silvagni family’s Balwyn North home in January 2024
The victim had engaged in consensual sex with Silvagni’s friend, Anthony LoGuidice, in an upstairs bedroom. LoGuidice then left the property in an Uber at about 1.58am. From there, jurors were told Silvagni lied to the woman by claiming the Uber had been cancelled and that LoGuidice would be coming back upstairs.
Minutes later, Silvagni entered the darkened room himself, climbed into the bed and digitally raped the woman twice while pretending to be the man she had been with moments earlier.
Evidence Presented to the Jury During Trial
Crown prosecutor Jeremy McWilliams described the conduct as “deception-based offending”, arguing the accused relied on impersonation rather than physical force. The woman said she became suspicious after touching longer hair and hearing a voice she recognised as Silvagni’s.
Jurors heard detailed evidence, including deception-based conduct and impersonation
Jurors heard she confronted him in the room and later identified him when light from the hallway revealed his silhouette. She told the jury, “You’re the only guy in the house,” before messaging LoGuidice to confirm he had already left.
The prosecution also said Silvagni later forged an Uber receipt to create the impression that his friend had departed much later than the actual time. He admitted altering the document, claiming he panicked.
Defence Arguments and Conflicting Accounts
Defence barrister David Hallowes SC argued that the woman may have misidentified Silvagni. The defence said there was a possibility that LoGuidice had returned to the room, despite his insistence he had only left once.
Both Silvagni and his girlfriend, model Alannah Iaconis, claimed they remembered LoGuidice asking them for a condom before leaving. This contradicted his evidence, which the prosecution urged the jury to disregard.
The prosecutor questioned whether Iaconis had shaped her account to protect her partner, which she denied. Silvagni also conceded during cross-examination that he had told several lies in the aftermath of the incident.
Suppression Order Lifted After Judicial Review
Multiple suppression orders had followed the case since Silvagni was charged in June 2024. One was overturned in May, then reinstated by the Supreme Court in August. The final order prevented media from naming Silvagni or referring to his family’s AFL connections.
His legal team argued the order was necessary to preserve his mental health and protect his safety. Judge Palmer accepted that rationale during the trial phase but said the circumstances changed once Silvagni was remanded.
The judge rejected a request from the defence for more time to prepare fresh evidence to keep the suppression in place. He gave Silvagni until late Thursday afternoon to lodge an appeal, but no application was made.
Prominent Family Attends Court Throughout Proceedings
Silvagni is the youngest son of former Carlton champion Stephen Silvagni and television personality Jo Silvagni. Both attended his trial, though they were not present when the suppression order was lifted.
Silvagni’s family, well-known in AFL circles, attended court hearings throughout the case
His brother Jack, who plays for St Kilda, and other family members also appeared in court earlier in the week. The family made no public comments after the verdicts.
Silvagni had previously worked as an AFL player agent and had hoped to pursue a football career, but never reached professional level.
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Next Steps as Sentencing Approaches
After the guilty verdicts were delivered, Judge Gregory Lyon ruled that Silvagni must be imprisoned, rejecting a bid for extended bail. He was remanded immediately and allowed a brief moment with his family before being taken into custody.
He is due to return to the County Court on Friday for a pre-sentence hearing. He is expected to remain behind bars over Christmas while the court considers the length of the sentence.
