Masseur praised by radio star appeals rape verdict
An alternative therapist who sexually assaulted a naked, blindfolded woman after being praised on the Kyle and Jackie O Show has launched a bid to avoid prison.
Steven Goldberg, 69, raped the woman and touched her breasts without her consent during a two-hour session at his home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
His 32-year-old victim joined with high hopes in October 2023 after hearing about Goldberg’s “magical” lomi lomi massages on his radio show.
In her glowing statement, KIIS presenter Jackie O said live on air: “It was something else, oh my god.”
There is no allegation of wrongdoing by Jackie O or its then-host Kyle Sandilands.
Goldberg sought to overturn his convictions, both on a single count of sexual contact without consent and an additional count of sexual intercourse, after a jury found him guilty in November.
The 69-year-old man claims he should have been acquitted because the verdicts were unreasonable or not supported by the evidence at trial.
“An irregularity occurred during the jury’s deliberations which resulted in (Goldberg’s) case being misjudged,” he wrote in the grounds of appeal, seen by AAP on Thursday.
He also appealed a sentence of three years behind bars, with a non-parole period of one-and-a-half years, handed down in the NSW District Court in February.
He claims Judge Miiko Kumar erred in finding that he knew his victim had not consented when he sexually assaulted the naked woman.
Instead the judge asked, “Can we proceed?” he realized he was asking. before harassing her.
She insisted as she closed her legs to stop him.
Judge Kumar said the victim froze in fear and pain during the attack.
The judge said the extremely vulnerable, blindfolded woman had difficulty moving as she lay naked on the massage table covered in coconut oil.
If Goldberg’s appeal is not successful, he will be eligible for parole in May 2027.
He will return to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal for a brief hearing in August.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Resolution Support Service 1800 211 028
