Two men accused of gang raping and imprisoning a 14-year-old girl plead not guilty - after wild scenes erupted outside previous hearing

By PAUL SHAPIRO, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 06:45, 31 July 2026 | Updated: 06:45, 31 July 2026 Two men accused of keeping a 14-year-old girl prisoner while they repeatedly gang raped her have pleaded not guilty.  Mohamed Hafda, 23, and co-accused Massimo Salerno, 22, fronted the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday where they denied all allegations they violated the child. Salerno, who appeared downtrodden in his prison greens via a custody link from the Metropolitan Remand Centre, pleaded not guilty to 14 indictable charges. Hafda, who appeared in person, also pleaded not guilty to 14 indictable charges.  The pair received alibi cautions as their matters shifted to the Melbourne County Court - the city's main venue for its heavy load of sex crime cases.  Sex crime investigators allege the gang rapes occurred in Coburg in September 2023, but the pair were not charged until January 14 this year. Detectives from the Fawkner Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team laid charges after the matter was reported to police. Hafda and Salerno are also accused of sexually assaulting and penetrating the child. Mohamed Hafda (pictured) pleaded not guilty to all charges  Hafda and his father clashed with a Daily Mail photographer outside court at a previous hearing Hafda's father told the photographer he did not have permission to photograph his son The pair have also been charged with allegedly causing the victim to touch them sexually without her consent. Hafda, who is on bail for the serious indictable charges, is further accused of supplying drugs to the child. The court heard that while Salerno was previously granted bail for these charges, he was later remanded over unrelated alleged offences.  Following a previous hearing, Hafda's dad clashed with a freelance photographer, saying he did not have 'permission' to photograph his son. As the accused rapist emerged from Melbourne Magistrates' Court, his father confronted the photographer on assignment for the Daily Mail. Hafda's dad attempted to block the photographer's view before lashing out, saying: 'Don't take photos of us. You don't have my permission to take photos of us.' When the cameraman told the father he did not need permission to take images of a person leaving court after a hearing, the pair attempted to mask their faces. Hafda attempted to flee court without being photographed following a previous hearing The father then attempted to create a diversion while his son hurried away from the court precinct, but the photographer was still able to capture images of him leaving. Hafda's father, who was not visible in the court room today, is not accused of any wrongdoing and was simply supporting his son at the previous hearing. Salerno, of South Morang in Melbourne's outer north, kept his head in his hands as he was remanded to face the County Court at a later date. Hafda, of Lalor in Melbourne's north, had his bail extended to appear in court at a later date.  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.