Woman on trial for rape

Woman on trial for rape
AGENCIES

QUEENSLAND, MARCH 18: A woman went on trial on Friday, accused of raping a man in what is believed to be the first case of its kind in Australia. Crown prosecutor Neville Weston told a court in Dalby that Zoe Dawes raped the 24-year-old man after he was tied at gunpoint to the verandah railing of a house at Miles, in southeast Queensland, and stripped.

Dawes, 26, Norman Townsend, 28, and Michael Lloyd, 33, are jointly charged with the rape of the man, who cannot be named, on August 16, 1998. They all pleaded not guilty before a District Court jury of eight women and four men. In his opening address, Weston said the man, who had been drinking heavily, alleged the rape happened at Townsend's home, known to locals as "21 Dump Street" because of the mess there. He said the man will give evidence that as he tried to leave the house, Townsend forced him back to the verandah by poking a bolt action rifle at him. The court heard he was then tied to the railing with white sheets or towels and his clothes removed. "He saw Zoe Dawes there. She was trying to tease him, saying he had nice muscles," Weston said.

The court was told Lloyd, known as "monster", then allegedly approached the man wearing gloves with an implement in his hands and "did something to his penis". Weston said the man would tell the court his penis became erect and then Dawes placed it, against his will, into her vagina. "(He will tell the court) he didn'T want to have sex with this woman," Weston said. The court was told Lloyd then allegedly forced the man to swallow two white tablets telling him: "You're not going to remember anything." "The next thing he can remember is being taken home and being put into bed," Weston said. The trial continues. The alleged victim was due to give evidence later Friday before a closed court.