Sinatra Rape Claim In Book

[Frank Sinatra](https://www.contactmusic.com/frank-sinatra) has been labelled a rapist in a new book by a woman who claims the legendary crooner sexually assaulted her in 1969.

In forthcoming biography SINATRA: THE LIFE by ANTHONY SUMMERS and ROBBYN SWAN, 56-year-old SUSAN MURPHY alleges Ol' Blue Eyes behaved in a brutal manner at a party at his Palm Springs, California, home.

Murphy, who was 20 at the time, was on a date at a Palm Springs restaurant, when the then-53-year-old singer beckoned her to join him and his friends.

After finding Sinatra's request "quite rude", she and her companion agreed to party at Sinatra's home. After her date left, Murphy joined Sinatra's entourage on a private flight to Las Vegas for a few hours of gambling, before turning to California.

At 2am, Murphy alleges she agreed to be taken on a tour of Sinatra's guest bungalows.

She claims, "He threw me on the bed. I said, 'God no!' He just pulled my dress up, pulled down my panties, and did what he wanted to do. I knew I couldn't overpower him.

"Afterward I was crying. I felt kind of halfway dead."

After Sinatra sent Murphy home in her car, she considered reporting the alleged crime.

She says, "I wanted to go to the police, but I thought, 'Me against Frank Sinatra?' So I just kept my mouth shut."

ROBERT A FINKELSTEIN, of SINATRA ENTERPRISES, responds to the allegations, "It sounds crazy. Frank Sinatra honoured women all the time."

06/05/2005 14:10