The charges relate to a case in which police decided not to press charges, but after a review of the case ordered by Victoria Police deputy commissioner Graham Ashton – prompted by a recommendation by the Office of Police Integrity – it was reopened.
The OPI asked the case against the St Kilda star, alleged to have followed a club family day, be revisited to make sure all appropriate evidence was explored and recorded.
A statement from St Kilda confirmed Milne had been charged: “The St Kilda Football Club can confirm that Stephen Milne has been charged by Victoria Police arising from a matter in 2004.
“The club acknowledges that any reopening of the matter will cause distress for all parties. The club is gathering details of this reinvestigation and intends to make further comment tomorrow.”
It was alleged by the victim, a 19-year-old student in 2004, that she was raped in the bedroom of Milne’s teammate Leigh Montagna’s home in Highett.
From the outset, Milne and Montagna have claimed they were innocent.
The revisiting of the case came after the detectives who prepared the initial brief publicly expressed their disappointment that the Department of Police Prosecutions chose not to lay charges.
St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt told media “it’s an ongoing issue and a police issue now.”
“There is really not much as a player I can say,” he said.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said the AFL was seeking further information and would meet in the next 24 hours with St Kilda representatives.
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