Verdict Reached in High-Profile Australian Trial
A Perth jury has acquitted British YouTuber and rapper Yung Filly, whose legal name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, of three counts of sexual penetration without consent. The verdict, delivered on July 31, 2026, follows an eight-day trial concerning an incident in a Perth hotel room in September 2024, following a nightclub performance. While cleared of the most serious sexual assault charges, the 30-year-old entertainer was found guilty of two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm.
The Nature of the Conviction
The jury found Barrientos guilty of biting the 20-year-old complainant on the cheek, neck, and breast. Prosecutors presented graphic photographic evidence of these injuries during the trial. The jury acquitted him of two additional charges related to slapping and strangulation. Furthermore, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on three remaining counts of sexual penetration without consent, leaving open the possibility of a future retrial should state prosecutors decide to pursue the case.
Context of the Incident
The trial detailed a timeline starting at a nightclub in Hillarys, where the complainant met Barrientos. The court heard that the pair later traveled to the InterContinental hotel in Perth’s central business district with the rapper’s entourage. The woman testified that she initially engaged in consensual sexual activity with Barrientos, whom she described as a personal idol. However, she alleged the encounter subsequently turned violent and non-consensual.
Barrientos, known for his work with the YouTube collective Beta Squad and appearances on BBC programs, consistently denied the rape allegations. He testified that he felt a mutual attraction at the concert venue, describing the initial interaction as consensual. His defense team argued that the complainant’s testimony was inconsistent and suggested that the prosecution’s case lacked impartiality.
Legal and Procedural Strains
The trial was marked by significant security measures and public interest. Judge Linda Black ordered the courtroom to be closed to the public on the final day following disruptions outside the courthouse, where supporters of the entertainer had gathered with placards. The judge explicitly instructed the jury to disregard external pressure and focus solely on the evidence presented.
Barrientos has been on bail since his arrest in Brisbane in 2024, though he was granted permission to return to the UK for a four-month period prior to the trial. He is scheduled to return to the Perth court on August 21, 2026, for a hearing to determine his sentencing date for the assault convictions.