Jury retires in churchyard rape trial

A jury has retired to consider its verdict for a man accused of raping a woman in the grounds of a Brisbane cathedral after the two met online.

Mitchell Cameron Peggie, 26, is on trial in Brisbane District Court, having pleaded not guilty to three counts each of rape and sexual assault.

The jury retired about 11.30am on Thursday, having heard allegations Peggie raped a student, then 21, in the grounds of the Cathedral of St Stephen last August after they met via the online dating platform Oasis.