A British musician and media personality, known as Yung Filly, has been acquitted of three counts of rape in a Perth court. The jury found the 30-year-old, legally named Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, not guilty of three charges of sexually penetrating a woman without consent.
However, the jury convicted Barrientos of two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm. These charges relate to allegations of biting the woman's neck, cheek, and breast during a sexual encounter in September 2024. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on three other sexual penetration charges, and the case is scheduled to return to court.
Barrientos had pleaded not guilty to all 10 charges he faced during an eight-day trial in the West Australian District Court. Prosecutors alleged that after consensual sex began, Barrientos became aggressive when the woman questioned if he was recording her. The prosecution stated the assaults began with biting and choking, leading to the charges of sexual penetration without consent.
During the trial, Barrientos admitted to biting the woman, describing them as "love bites." He testified that the sex was enjoyable and that the woman made sounds of pleasure. Photos presented in court showed the woman with extensive bruising on her face and neck, as well as a bite wound on her breast.
Barrientos was on his first tour of Australia when he met the woman. He was arrested in Queensland and extradited to Western Australia. The tour had begun in Perth before moving to Queensland.
The trial has impacted the career of the Colombia-born, South London artist, who has a significant following on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Spotify. He has also appeared on BBC programs and hosted light entertainment shows.
At one point during the trial, fans of Yung Filly were banned from the courtroom for illegally posting images recorded inside. Barrientos's bail has been continued until a court mention scheduled for August 21.