The woman sat in the witness box holding a microphone, tears welling in her eyes, and told the court she had done everything possible to prevent Oswin Barker from raping her on the night of March 21.
“I could remember punching him with my right hand in his face,” she said. “I talk to him; I hold him by his face and I say, ‘Oswin, what … you doing? I don’t want this. Stop it.’”
At the start of Mr. Barker’s High Court trial this week, Senior Crown Counsel Christilyn Benjamin had told jurors that they would have to decide whether they believe beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had sexual intercourse with the alleged victim without her consent.
“No one was present when this incident happened,” Ms. Benjamin said. “But you, members of the jury, are now tasked to decide what happened. You will have to determine: Who do you believe?”
During the cross-examination, Mr. Barker’s attorney, Stephen Daniels, questioned the alleged victim extensively.
“I’m suggesting to you that Oswin Barker had sex with you in your apartment on two occasions,” he said. “I’m also suggesting to you that you and Oswin Barker had sex at Brandywine Beach, twice.”
“No, it’s not true,” the defendant repeated, often breaking into tears. “I never had sex with Oswin.”
See the Nov. 15, 2012 edition for full coverage.