Woman tells Court of rape late in pregnancy

Press, 29 June 1985, Page 4

Woman tells Court of rape late in pregnancy

PA Auckland A young woman, 8% months pregnant, submitted to rape because she feared her unborn child would otherwise be harmed, she told the District Court at Henderson. She said in depositions that the accused, Desmond William Cook, aged 26, pushed his hands down on her stomach at one stage and, when the tone of his voice became more aggressive, she said she did not want to make him angry. At the end of the hearing,

Messrs A. R. Sinclair and R, W. Gash, Justices of the Peace, found there was a case to answer and remanded Cook in custody to the High Court on August 9 for trial. An interim suppression of name was lifted. Cook, an unemployed labourer, of no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to raping the woman in Massey, west Auckland, on May 18. Earlier, Detective Michael Hill said that when questioned by the police Cook initially denied having intercourse with the woman but then admitted it, alleging she had “egged him on.” Other witnesses told of Cook’s requesting their help to get his car started, some after being flagged down.

The pregnant woman said she had to stop because Cook was standing in the middle of her lane on the road. He asked for a tow but the rope broke. He sat in the driver’s seat next to her and later went to the passenger seat. She said he sat across her, made indecent suggestions and kissed her. She said she became frightened when he pulled her pants down and the tone of his voice changed. She did not want him to push her in the stomach again. She said she gave birth to her baby on May 28. The public, including Cook’s pregnant wife, were ordered’ from the court while the woman gave evidence.