ACT Supreme Court acquits Samuel Carrasco of kidnapping because of accuser's 'puzzling' story

Samuel Carrasco, 25, was found not guilty of kidnapping for ransom and making a demand with a threat by acting Justice Peter Berman in the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday. He has pleaded guilty to blackmail and will face a separate hearing for common assault in the ACT Magistrates Court.

The prosecution had alleged Carrasco had forced his former girlfriend to drive him from the Australian War Memorial car park to Telstra Tower after she broke up with him in May last year. He was accused of then pushing a sharp object against her neck and threatening to inject her with ketamine.

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Acting Justice Berman said the prosecution's case relied "almost exclusively" on the ex-girlfriend's account.

The woman, 27, drove to Queanbeyan with Carrasco on the night in question. There she entered a service station, but while inside did not ask an attendant for help. Acting Justice Berman called this "puzzling".

Text messages demanding ransom money were later sent from the woman's phone to her mother, saying she and Carrasco had both been kidnapped. Acting Justice Berman said in context, some messages sent by the woman were more consistent with her wanting her mother to pay a ransom than a plea for help.

A sentencing date for the blackmail charge is expected to be set next Thursday.

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