A WOMAN who claims she was raped by a 28-year-old man was found to have multiple injuries to her body when forensically examined, a jury has heard.
Speaking during the trial of David Sullivan, forensic examiner Dr Deryn Evans said that more than one injury in the genital area was more likely to be consistent with non-consensual sex.
Mr Sullivan has been charged with four counts of rape. He has entered not guilty pleas to all of the charges.
Giving evidence during the third day of the Royal Court trial, Dr Evans said she was part of a team who peer reviewed the original examination of the woman, which was undertaken by Dr James Newton following the alleged victim’s self-referral to the Sexual Assault Referral Centre.
Dr Newton’s findings included abrasions, a bruise on her inner left bicep, which Mr Newton described as a ‘protected area’, and multiple scratches on her body.
He said: ‘My level of understanding is that it is five or six times more likely they have been sexually assaulted if there is an abrasion, than if they had consensual sex.’
Answering questions from Crown Advocate Simon Thomas, prosecuting, Dr Evans told the court that her peer review found additional injuries. ‘Redness and swelling indicates to me blunt force trauma. It is consistent with something pushing against the area,’ she said.
‘It is very rare for consensual sex to have more than one injury. More than one genital injury and bruising is much more consistent with non-consensual sex,’ she added.
Cross-examining Dr Evans, Advocate Sarah Dale, defending, asked when those injuries were likely to have occurred.
Dr Evans said that injuries to that part of the body healed ‘quickly’ and it was likely the woman’s injuries were from the previous week.
She added that her conclusions were based on research studies, which she acknowledged had ‘some limitations’.
On Tuesday, the alleged victim told the court that Mr Sullivan would have sex with her while she was asleep.
The woman also admitted that she and Mr Sullivan, who she met online, had had consensual sex that was sometimes rough.
Commissioner Sir John Saunders was presiding. The trial is expected to last another two days.
