A husband and wife have been jailed for raping a 15-year-old girl following a party at the couple’s house.
Christopher Luke Hili and Lee Kathleen Hili had pleaded not guilty in 2024 in the Queensland Supreme Court to two counts of rape, one count of exposing a child to an indecent act and one of exposing a child to an indecent film.
Christopher Hili also pleaded not guilty to two counts of supplying cannabis to a child.
They held each other in the dock when the jury found them guilty on all counts in April 2024 after deliberating for about two hours following a five-day trial.
The couple was sentenced at the Supreme Court in Brisbane today after spending nearly a year in custody following the guilty verdicts.
Justice Paul Freeburn sentenced Christopher Hili to seven years’ imprisonment and Lee Hili to six years.
During the trial the victim’s testimony was pre-recorded and shown in closed court and no forensic medical or DNA evidence was presented.
Crown prosecutor Melissa Wilson said during the trial the girl had attended an evening party at the Hilis’ 12-hectare property in the Gold Coast region in December 2021.
“Christopher Hili rolled a joint of cannabis and offered it to (the girls) and they smoked it,” Wilson said.
She said the girl also consumed alcohol, causing her to vomit and be taken downstairs to lie down.
The prosecutor said the girl was taken downstairs by the Hilis and thought she was being taken to her friend but was instead taken to the couple’s bedroom.
The girl said she passed out when Christopher Hili started touching her and then woke up naked while being sexually assaulted by the couple as a pornographic movie was playing on a TV in the bedroom.
Lee Hili chose to take the witness stand in her defence and denied assaulting the girl or being present while she was assaulted.
She will be eligible for parole from September 30, 2025 and Christopher Hili will be eligible for parole from March 31, 2026 after both spent 346 days in pre-sentence custody.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
