Lee Case Goes to Trial

The case of the People of the State of New York v. Jason Lee, the former Goldman Sachs managing director charged with raping an Irish student in in his summer rental house in East Hampton last year, will go to trial in January, with pretrial motions to be heard on Jan. 27. According to comments by the prosecutor, Kim Shalvey, and Andrew Lankler, an attorney for the defense, jury selection will begin soon after. The two sides met on Monday for a final conference, during which State Supreme Court Justice Barbara R. Kahn set the January date.

Ms. Shalvey was asked, as she walked down the corridor of the Cromarty Criminal Courts building in Riverside, whether the victim, identified to the media only by her first initial, D., would return from Ireland to testify against Mr. Lee. The answer was an emphatic yes.

In addition to the rape charge, which carries a minimum of five years in state prison, Mr. Lee faces two misdemeanor charges, assault and sexual misconduct. The assault charge, while classed as a misdemeanor, may be key in this case because, according to statements made previously by Ms. Shalvey, as well as by the office of District Attorney Thomas Spota, the nature of the injuries the then-20-year-old suffered corroborate the violent nature of the encounter.

Mr. Lee’s attorneys have said that the sex was consensual, and that the young woman’s injuries predated the alleged rape, a claim Ms. Shalvey vehemently contested in open court in May.

The woman was one of several Irish students at Georgica restaurant in Wainscott who were celebrating the end of the summer season and their imminent return home — part of the annual influx from Ireland of young people who work in various seasonal jobs on the East Coast. The alleged victim was said by sources close to the investigation to have worked for the summer in New England, and to have come to Montauk to be with her brother before returning home.

At the restaurant, they met Mr. Lee and his friend Rene Duncan, who were celebrating Mr. Lee’s 37th birthday. At closing time, the party moved to Mr. Lee’s Clover Leaf Lane house, which he and his wife had rented for the season. Ms. Lee, who is a financial advisor with Goldman-Sachs, was in the city that day.

Mr. Duncan has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

Back at the house as the party continued, the revelers began bathing in a hot tub in the yard, as well as in a pool. They were reportedly drinking alcohol throughout.

Mr. Lee is accused of following D. into the house, forcing his way into the bathroom she was using, and raping her, using his forearm to press her to the ground.

Meanwhile Mr. Duncan, who thought one of the students had stolen his vehicle, called police to the house. When Mr. Lee realized police were at the scene he reportedly hid in the back seat of his Range Rover, which had tinted windows.

With police investigating a possible stolen car, the alleged victim’s brother pulled a female officer aside and directed her to his sister, who was sobbing. After interviewing the woman, police began to look for Mr. Lee, who was eventually found, according to the district attorney’s office, after a prolonged search of the grounds.

“We are looking forward to our case going to trial,” Mr. Lankler said Monday, declining to comment further. Though Ms. Shalvey said little as she left the courtroom, she seemed equally confident. Accused and accuser are about to get their day in court.