Judge declares Qld massage rape mistrial

A judge has declared a mistrial for a Brisbane massage therapist accused of raping women he met on the dating app Tinder.

Philip David Turner has pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, related to two separate incidents in late 2019 and early 2020.

Sexual contact between the 42-year-old and the two women is not in dispute, but Mr Turner denied assaulting the women.

"He honestly and reasonably believed that (both women) were willing participants," lawyer Kim Bryson told the Brisbane District Court.

The Crown alleged the women expected a "normal" massage when they met with Mr Turner.

"They expected it to be a professional, normal massage and each of them will tell you that they did not consent to any sexual contact with the defendant," prosecutor Edward Coker told the court.

"That is not how things played out for either of them."

Turner told the court he believed it was clear the massages were not professional by the way he met the women and the messages exchanged.

After three days of evidence, the jury was unable to reach a verdict.

Judge Deborah Holliday declared a mistrial and the matter has been relisted for mention on November 8.