I covered Ralph Carr’s trial from day 1. Despite his monstrous crime, one of his closest celebrity mates still backs him – and reveals fears he will go ‘crazy’ behind bars

A high-profile friend of disgraced celebrity agent Ralph Carr says he was shocked by the rape charges and that, despite his guilty verdict, still believes Carr is innocent.

Carr, 66, who was prosecuted under his full name Ralph Carnovale-Carr, was last week found guilty of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault.

His identity could only be revealed after an interim suppression order expired on Monday.

Carr raped a woman after a night of drinking wine and using cocaine together at his West Melbourne home in March 2023.

He always denied the allegations – but a jury of nine women and three men saw through him, taking less than three days to return unanimous guilty verdicts.

Before Carr was unmasked, one of his close friends – a prominent figure speaking on the strict condition of anonymity – told the Mail he had grave concerns for his welfare.

The friend who spoke anonymously to the Mail is not named or pictured in this story. 

‘I’ve known him for years. I know his family. This [being identified] will kill his mother,’ the friend said.

‘I was shocked when I found out the verdict. I just can’t believe he is guilty. I’ve never seen him act that way around women. 

‘I know him to be stern and a bit fiery in business, but that’s showbusiness – it’s cut-throat. You have got to have a bit of go, a bit of mongrel in you, to get the deals done or you can’t survive as long as Ralph has.’

The friend said he first heard about the charges just before Carr’s 13-day trial began last month.

‘I believed he was innocent and I still do. I didn’t even know he was on bail, but it makes sense now – he wasn’t travelling interstate or overseas,’ he said.

He added he wasn’t sure why Carr hadn’t told some of his friends about the charges.

‘Maybe he thought he’d be cleared and wouldn’t need to, but I don’t know why he kept it from certain people,’ he said.

The friend also said that he feared Carr would struggle in prison.

‘He’s always on the move, always doing something, so the idea of just sitting around in prison… he’ll be going crazy.

‘He’s an action man, he’s a mover and shaker, he goes to Sydney, he flies to America, he meets people, he gets the deals done.’ 

The man hopes Carr is acquitted on appeal but is unsure what the future holds for his career as an agent. 

‘If anyone can bounce back, it’s Ralph,’ the friend added. 

Carr was taken into custody last Tuesday before appearing in person at the County Court for a fresh suppression hearing.

His barrister, Dermot Dann KC, secured an interim suppression order after Carr was found guilty and had planned a further bid, but the application was withdrawn on Monday afternoon.

Carr had been protected by a series of strict suppression orders since he first faced court on the rape charges back in September 2023.

The orders shielded his identity and image, and also barred media from reporting his links to the entertainment industry and the AFL.

It was similar to the order that protected convicted rapist Tom Silvagni until he was found guilty in December last year.

Carr had managed several AFL players but none bigger than three-time-premiership Tiger Dustin Martin, who is not the friend who spoke to the Mail.

Martin severed professional ties with Carr shortly after his former manager’s identity was revealed.

‘I was shocked to learn of the outcome of the court proceedings,’ Martin said in a statement.

‘I had no knowledge whatsoever of the conduct that led to these convictions. My thoughts are with those affected.

‘Effective immediately, I have ended my professional relationship with my former manager.

‘As this is a legal matter, I will not be making any further comment.’

Carr represented Martin throughout the AFL champion’s rise from a talented Richmond midfielder to one of Australian sport’s most recognisable figures.

Martin had also been in a reported $16million inner-city Melbourne development partnership with trial witness and developer Chris Bissiotis.

Mr Bissiotis, who co-owns Este Wategos Byron Bay, and his partner Andrea Keough, gave evidence during the trial from the Australian Embassy in Athens.

The jury heard that Mr Bissiotis and Carr had been friends for decades.

Two other friends of Carr – a former Carlton Football Club director and a former Ralph Carr Management associate – gave character evidence on his behalf.

Ex-Blues board member and leading Victorian lawyer Marcus Clarke KC told the jury he knew about the accusations but described Carr as ‘honourable’.

‘He’s respectful of everyone, women… he’s just very decent, very honest,’ Clarke said.

Clarke said he joined the Carlton board in 2007, met Carr (who was also a director) at that time, and the two had been friends ever since.

‘I’d say he used to fight hard for his clients,’ Clarke told the jury. ‘But once he did a deal, he stuck with it. He’s honest and stood by any agreement he made.

‘He’s just an honourable character – never even raised his temper.’

Entertainment industry consultant Adrian Marchesani, who first worked for Carr in 1998, said most staff were women during his 22 years at Ralph Carr Management.

Marchesani told the court he never saw Carr act inappropriately towards any female staff, or women in general.

‘He’s very committed to work. I don’t think he has many interests outside it – he likes football, but managed to turn that into work,’ Marchesani said.

‘He doesn’t really have outside interests, and is very dedicated to the artists, since a manager earns commission. So it’s in his best interest to get the best results for them.

‘I think he acts respectfully towards almost everyone. It’s a business where you have to be on everyone’s side to get things done.

‘He can be direct with record companies and others, but he acts on behalf of his artists.’

Carr, active in the entertainment industry until his remand, has represented A-listers including Kate Ceberano, Vanessa Amorosi and Richard Wilkins.

He was also married to singer Tina Arena for four years between 1995 and 1999, after managing her early career and transition from teen sensation to adult pop star.

Arena has previously called the marriage ‘disgraceful’ and said she ‘went back to zero’ financially as a result.

She added, ‘It was a wonderful business transaction from his perspective.’

Arena, who still tours and remains hugely popular in France, wrote in her autobiography Now I Can Dance that she felt ‘disconnected’ from Carr on their wedding day.

She also revealed the couple argued when she refused to sell photos of the ceremony to a women’s magazine. The Mail approached Arena for comment.

During Carr’s trial, the jury heard claims that the victim and Carr consumed cocaine and wine together before heading to Mr Bissiotis’s home to watch a footy game on March 23, 2023.

Mr Bissiotis and Ms Keough told the court Carr barely touched his wine and was falling asleep during the final quarter.

Both also testified that they saw the woman place her hand on Carr’s thigh, but he didn’t seem interested.

That evening, Carr and the woman returned to his Melbourne home after the game ended, the court heard.

They allegedly used more cocaine before the accused said he was tired and wanted to go to bed.

The jury heard that Carr got into bed while the woman followed him into his room and sat on a lounge chair in front of the bed.

The court was told the victim became upset and confided in the accused about ‘difficulties’ she had experienced in a recent relationship.

Carr then allegedly picked her up and pulled her onto his bed as she started crying.

The court heard he then tried to kiss her, but she pushed him away. He then touched her breast, waist and buttocks, and attempted to put his hand between her legs.

The woman tried to push him off and told him to stop, the court heard.

‘I don’t want this,’ the woman told him.

Prosecutor Matt Fisher told the jury the accused then said, ‘You are so sexy,’ and, ‘I can’t stop, I need your help to sleep, help me.’

The jury heard that the pair remained on the bed but separated, with the woman holding a pillow against her chest and quietly crying under the blanket.

Carr then pulled the blanket off her and penetrated her with his finger, the jury was told.

The court heard the woman ‘did not respond’ when she felt Carr’s hand and closed her eyes.

She heard and felt Carr removing his pants, before feeling him penetrate her with his penis.

Prosecutor Fisher told the jury Carr penetrated her a second time in quick succession.

The jury heard the woman then punched Carr in the nose, prompting him to grab his face and say, ‘You’ve broken my nose.’

She jumped from the bed and yelled, ‘You’re a f***ing rapist.’

He responded, ‘I knew I shouldn’t have drunk,’ and said his ‘nose was f***ed’.

‘Why did I drink? Why did I do this?’ Carr said, according to Mr Fisher.

‘Shut the f*** up. You’ve just done this to me. You’re a rapist,’ the woman replied.

The jury heard Carr responded: ‘It’s not rape. I was using my fingers.’

‘That’s still rape, you can’t just do that. Also, you didn’t just use your fingers, I felt you used your d**k,’ the woman said.

Carr then told the woman to order an Uber and leave his house.

He was investigated and charged in August 2023.

Carr is now behind bars awaiting sentencing, but his legal team has indicated it may go for a rarely used legal move and apply for a stay of sentence.

Mr Dann declared that a ‘gross miscarriage of justice’ had occurred.