Ellie Wilson: Defence lawyer to pay compensation to rape victim

The complaints related to a rape trial at the High Court in Glasgow in 2022 at which Mr Alonzi was acting on behalf of Daniel McFarlane.

The former University of Glasgow medical student was convicted of raping Ms Wilson and sentenced to five years in prison.

After the trial, Ms Wilson complained about the way Mr Alonzi had spoken to her during cross-examination as well as his language during closing speeches and sentencing.

At one point Mr Alonzi “abused the privileged position” he held by asking Ms Wilson if she had narcissistic personality disorder despite there being no report or diagnosis of the condition. Ms Wilson replied that she did not.

After McFarlane had been found guilty of rape, Mr Alonzi told the court his client “fell in love with the wrong person”, that he didn’t belong in court and that it was “difficult not to imagine some sense of injustice in it all”.

In response to Ms Wilson’s complaints, the committee found that Mr Alonzi had engaged in unsatisfactory conduct during questioning, closing speeches and sentencing.

Issuing its penalty, it said it was regrettable that Mr Alonzi “does not appear to clearly and unequivocally accept any wrongdoing on his part or offer an unreserved apology” to Ms Wilson.

It did note that he was said to “regret any upset caused to the complainer as well as any perception of discourtesy to the court”.