Man in court over alleged rape of Irish student

A former Goldman Sachs banker accused of raping an Irish student last year appeared in a New York court today as lawyers prepare for his trial to start next month.

Jason Lee, who was a managing director at the financial firm has denied raping the 20-year-old woman at a luxury holiday home in the Hamptons last year.

She has since returned to Ireland.

The prosecution alleges he had been celebrating his birthday in August 2013 when he met a group of Irish students marking the end of their holidays and invited them to the house, which he was renting with friends for $33,000 (€24,000) a month.

The investment banker was charged after police were called to the house on another matter in the early hours of the morning.

As well as the rape charge, which carries a minimum custodial sentence of five years, Mr Lee also faces charges of assault and sexual misconduct.

Earlier this year, a judged issue a restraining order against him after a private investigator working on his behalf contacted the victim at her home in Ireland.

She is expected to return to New York to give evidence once the trial begins.

The next hearing is due on November 17th in Riverhead, New York, to schedule trial dates.