Soldier to take the stand in sex assault case

Whanganui District Court

One of two soldiers accused of sexually violating and indecently assaulting a woman in a Unimog at the Waiouru Army base will give evidence in court this afternoon.

Michael Williams Galvin will take the stand in defence of three charges of sexual violation and three of indecent assault, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

His co-accused, Keith Issac Cook, has also pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The trial began Monday before Judge David Cameron and a jury of eight women and four men. The alleged offending happened in the early hours of October 5, 2012.

Cook told a detective, after being arrested for the alleged offending, that he wished he had been arrested sooner, the court heard.

Constable Lane Demchy, who was a detective on the case at the time, said he discussed the charges with Cook after he was arrested on November 21, 2012.

Reading from his statement, he said Cook told him: "It's been hard sitting here for three and a half weeks waiting for this."

According to military policeman John Bosmann, who was also called as a witness, Bosmann sent out an email on October 23, 2012, asking for information on the alleged offending from anyone who was at the camp that night. Cook received the email and, it was confirmed, opened the email.

The trial is set to conclude tomorrow.