Former Olympian pleads not guilty to attacking woman

File photo / Greg Bowker

A former Olympian punched and strangled a woman, dragged her through a house and repeatedly raped her, a High Court jury has heard.

The Crown accuses the former Olympian, who has name suppression, of five counts of sexual violation, two counts of injuring with intent to injure, three counts of male assaults female, assault with intent to injure, and abduction.

The offences allegedly occurred in Auckland between March and August 2008. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

In her opening address to the jury at the High Court at Auckland today, Prosecutor Rachael Reed said the accused tried to control the woman with violence and sexual abuse.

On one occasion the pair were in a car together and the woman, who also cannot be named, was suffering from painful stomach cramps.

Ms Reed said [name suppressed] found the woman's discomfort "amusing' and poked her in the stomach. "She went to slap his hand away and accidentally slapped him in the face with the back of her hand."

In response the man "punched her in the nose and mouth".

The court heard when the car stopped the former Olympian pulled her out and pushed her inside the house. He dragged her into the hallway and began strangling her so tightly she couldn't breathe.

The woman went limp in the hope he would let go of her. He eventually did let go and told her she had to clean herself up. When she refused to do so, he put her bloody clothing in the washing machine.

Ms Reed said later that night he asked her for sex and started "sweet talking" her. The woman refused to have sex and it is alleged he then raped her.

The Crown alleges there are six different cases of violence and sexual abuse. Among these incidents are allegations the former Olympian pushed the woman's face onto a steering wheel, giving her a bloody nose, and punched her in the face through a pillow before raping her.

As well as the rape charges he is accused of forcing the woman to perform oral sex on him.

The trial has been set down for five days.