Alleged rape victim used baby as shield, court told

A woman told yesterday how she used her young son as a barrier in a vain attempt to prevent being raped.

The woman was giving evidence on the first day of the trial of Waitara man Marcus John Russ, 32, who has denied sexual violation by rape.

The Crown alleges Russ raped the woman in her Inglewood home in November 2007, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

The woman told New Plymouth District Court that she had gone to bed with her son who had been unwell and was nearly asleep when she heard somebody open her bedroom door.

She said the accused told her that nobody had to know before he pulled the blankets off her bed, pinned her down and raped her.

"I thought he would leave me alone if I had my son," she said.

"I just wanted him to go away and leave me alone."

The woman said her son was screaming while the attack took place and held up her son as a barrier to try and prevent the attack.

She said she did not complain until four months after the incident, because she did not think police would believe her.

Some photographs showing apologetic text messages, allegedly from Russ to the victim, were then shown to the court.

Defence counsel Susan Hughes QC said Russ had had consensual sex with the woman.

She said the jury should focus on the woman's description of the attack, her injuries and the timing of her complaint.

The trial continues today.

- NZPA