Man, 25, facing a life sentence for 'filming the house party gang rape of 16-year-old girl on a GoPro' is refused bail

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A young man facing a possible life sentence over his alleged role in a gang rape of a 16-year-old girl at a house party has failed in his bid to be freed on bail.

Tristan Carlyle-Watson has remained behind bars since last year after he allegedly contacted the girl over Facebook and invited her to a St Clair party in western Sydney.

The 25-year-old allegedly gave the girl alcohol and cannabis shortly before she blacked out, and as she drifted in and out of consciousness she was sexually assaulted by several men.

During a bail hearing on Wednesday, the NSW Supreme Court heard the alleged attackers took turns having sex with the teenager and filmed themselves in the act using a GoPro camera, and that Carlyle-Watson was captured on film laughing.

Tristan Carlyle-Watson has remained behind bars over his alleged role in a gang rape of a 16-year-old girl

Justice David Davies said the footage depicted 'what can only be described as a gang rape of the victim when she was sometimes unconscious, and the rest of the time exceptionally inebriated'.

He added that it was reasonable to infer that one of the drinks she had been given was spiked.

However, the accused man's lawyer told the court the film did not show Carlyle-Watson engaging in sexual activity with the complainant, and that the girl's stated memories of what took place at the party were unreliable.

'Her first recollection was that she had no idea that she had sex with anyone. That was the first thing that she told her friends,' the lawyer told the court.

'It was only when the police had access to the GoPro that they saw the footage, and made inquiries and spoke to her.'

The footage was only discovered after police involved in a graffiti crackdown seized the GoPro as part of that investigation. 

It is alleged Carlyle-Watson (pictured) gave the girl alcohol and cannabis shortly before she blacked out, and as she drifted in and out of consciousness she was sexually assaulted by several men

NSW Supreme Court (pictured) heard the alleged attackers took turns having sex with the teenage girl

They allegedly filmed themselves in the act using a GoPro, and Carlyle-Watson was captured on film laughing

Although Carlyle-Watson was initially charged with concealing a serious indictable offence, he has since been charged with further offences including aggravated sexual assault in company, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

He was also charged with sexual assault.

Justice Davies refused bail after finding the defendant had failed to show cause as to why his continued detention was not justified.

'I have serious doubts that any bail conditions that could be put in place would ensure the victim's safety,' he added.

The case against Carlyle-Watson returns to Penrith Local Court on Friday.

Three other men and a teenage boy were also charged over the alleged incident and remain before the courts.

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