British rapper and YouTuber Yung Filly will face a retrial in Australia next month on three charges of rape after a jury failed to reach a verdict in his initial trial. The 30-year-old rapper, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, has also been charged with possessing cannabis.
Previous trial outcomes
Last month, Barrientos was found not guilty of raping a woman in an Australian hotel room after an eight-day trial at the District Court of Western Australia in Perth. However, he was found guilty of two charges of assault occasioning bodily harm over bites to the woman's neck and breast.
Jurors did not reach verdicts on the three counts of sexual penetration without consent. In a court appearance on Thursday, prosecutors confirmed a retrial will go ahead.
Upcoming court dates
An application to vary bail conditions will be heard on August 27, with the case mentioned to list for retrial at the District Court on September 25. Western Australia's courts confirmed bail has previously been set at a personal undertaking of 100,000 Australian dollars (£52,340). The sentencing date for the guilty verdicts has not yet been confirmed.
Barrientos is also facing a fresh charge of possessing a prohibited drug after an alleged offence on May 20, while he was on bail. He faces a hearing at Mandurah Magistrates' Court near Perth on September 1.
Allegations and background
At the initial trial, the rapper denied all charges when prosecutors alleged he assaulted a 20-year-old woman, who cannot legally be named, in his hotel room while he was on tour in Australia in September 2024. The pair met at a nightclub after his performance, the court heard. The YouTuber was arrested several days later in the eastern city of Brisbane.
It was argued by the prosecution that the woman withdrew her consent after fearing for her safety, despite initially agreeing to have sex with Barrientos. The jury acquitted the rapper of three counts of sexual penetration without consent, an assault charge over an alleged slap and a choking charge.
Barrientos grew to fame collaborating with the YouTube collective Beta Squad and has featured on many BBC shows. He has appeared for England on Soccer Aid and The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer on Channel 4. He hosted the BBC series Hot Property and Munya And Filly Get Chilly with comedian Munya Chawawa, a spin-off show of Freeze The Fear With Wim Hof.
