A man has been cleared of allegations that he raped his wife in their Canberra home in 2012.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
His wife's accusations were first aired to police in the early stages of a child custody battle between the couple.
The woman alleged she had woken in her bed on three separate occasions to find the 29-year-old, who cannot be named, performing oral sex on her.
She says she told him to stop and that it was strange.
But she claimed she woke up one night in September to find him with his arms tightly around her, trying to force sex upon her.
She said she protested but he continued and raped her.
But the woman's evidence came under attack by the man's defence team, led by barrister Philip Dunn, QC, during last week's trial.
The husband had strenuously denied the charges and said he believed she had made up the story during a battle over access to their child.
The woman had left his home, taking the child to live with her interstate.
Her allegation was first made to police on the day the woman received a letter from her husband's lawyers, stating that he planned to take her to court so he could see his child.
On Tuesday morning, a jury cleared the husband on all three counts of rape.
Their verdict was met with gasps of relief, and some of the husband's supporters began sobbing, and thanking the jury as they left the courtroom.
The husband was visibly relieved as he was discharged and allowed to freely leave the court.