Oct 21 - Man On Trial For Attempted Rape Denies Allegations
A man currently standing trial at the Supreme Court has said he never intended to go to rape a disabled woman in her sixties in her home.
Karim Rudge, 27, gave evidence in court today, saying he didn’t make threats to kill the complainant, he didn’t tell her to give him oral sex and did not he hold a knife to the woman’s throat, when questioned by his defence counsel Elliott Phillips.
It is alleged that Rudge entered the woman’s house in March earlier this year, went upstairs to her bedroom, held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her while demanding oral sex. The woman pushed Rudge while he was allegedly fumbling to remove his trousers and ran downstairs, called the police and hid outside the house.
When giving evidence today, Rudge claimed he had got into a heated argument with a friend after a day of drinking excessively and consuming cocaine. He said that he walked out of the house he was staying in with a kitchen knife in his hand thinking his friend would come looking for a fight, and entered the first doorway on the right after feeling paranoid about oncoming traffic and fearing for his safety.
Rudge told the jury he pushed open the door and walked upstairs after he saw the light on but denies hearing that the television was on, while holding the knife out, walked into the bedroom and was surprised to see a woman standing there, who pushed him before she ran downstairs.
Prosecutor Robert Fischel QC, assisted by Mark Clive Zammitt, asked why he was heard swearing on the CCTV footage when entering the second bedroom, and Rudge said he was caught by surprise when a cat jumped in his way.
Mr Phillips asked what he would say to the woman in court today. The defendant, who faces one count of attempted rape and one count of trespass to commit a sexual offence, said: “I have done wrong before but there isn’t a single day that I have not thought about this poor woman and what she has gone through, how scared and frightened she must have been at that moment when I was in her house.
“When I entered the house it was out of fear and paranoia but not to commit a sexual offence.
“I am so sorry for what I have put that poor woman through and I hope that one day she forgives me.”
When asked by Mr Phillips, who is assisted by Danielle Victor, whether he intended to rape the woman, Rudge said he did not.
The victim insisted her version of events were the truth when she was recalled to the stand this morning for further questioning.
The trial, now in its fourth day, continues on Monday when the defence and prosecution are expected to make their closing arguments.
{fcomment}
