John Hope Muchirahondo Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Warning: This story discusses details of sexual violence.
- John Muchirahondo is facing 21 charges of sexual violation by rape, nine of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and one of not providing access to a cell phone.
- The defence case is that Muchirahondo believed he had consent for all sexual acts.
- The Crown today started its closing address.
The Crown has started its closing address on Monday by reading out some of the words of the 15 women who have made complaints against the accused, John Muchirahondo.
"I was not conscious, so there was no way I could say no."
"Raped me - not having sex - rape."
"She couldn't walk straight, could barely hold herself up. She was slurring her words. She was almost completely blackout drunk. When someone is in a state like that, that's just taking advantage, that's not consent."
"All I remember is him pulling my underwear and skirt down, and then, I sort of phased out."
In the High Court in Christchurch John Hope Muchirahondo faces 21 charges of sexual violation by rape, nine of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and one of not providing access to a cell phone.
Crown prosecutor Claire Boshier today told the jury the Crown case is that Muchirahondo sexually violated all of the women who made complaints.
She said the women did not give consent to the sexual contact.
Boshier said some of the women were asleep when the sex started, or so drunk they could not give consent, or were so drunk they passed out during sex.
In other cases the women repeatedly said no, but were ignored by Muchirahondo, she said.
"Mr Muchirahondo is a man who has disregard for the concept of consent," Boshier said.
"What the other party wants or even what state she is in, is irrelevant to him. He simply does not care. He is focused on what he wants."
She said intoxication featured in the trial for many of the complainants, and the jury would have noticed that often the females were very intoxicated but Muchirahondo was not.
In some cases Muchirahondo was the one buying the women drinks.
"Usually you might think the sober person is the one relied on to look after the others who were drinking, to drive people home safely. In this case you might think Mr Muchirahondo's sobriety was the opposite - it was predatory."
The Crown's closing address is continuing.
Where to get help:
Victim Support 0800 842 846
Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00
HELP Call 24/7 (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): 04 801 6655 - push 0 at the menu
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) 022 344 0496
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.