Surf Coast man Christian Jackson takes stand in rape trial

A Surf Coast man accused of rape and strangling a woman has taken the stand in the Geelong County Court.

Christian Jackson

A Surf Coast man accused of rape and strangling a woman has taken the stand in the Geelong County Court.

Christian Maxwell Jackson is fighting three charges of rape and allegations of assault, including claims he strangled the woman on multiple occasions.

On Friday, Mr Jackson was shown a video where the alleged victim could be seen with red marks on her neck, but told prosecutors he “couldn’t recall” seeing them.

He denied raping the woman in 2016, as well as the claim he used words to “belittle and control” her.

While he admitted to “agitating” the woman on more than one occasion, he denied calling her a number of names.

Mr Jackson also shot down claims he’d crushed a phone in the alleged victim’s hand after a social gathering, telling the court he simply “slapped” the phone out of her hand to avoid being filmed.

“We’d all been drinking, and I didn’t want to be filmed,” he said.

Several witnesses have been called to give testimony across the week-long trial.

One witness had earlier told the court how she’d allegedly heard Mr Jackson berate the woman at the same social gathering.

“He was grabbing at her, holding her with one hand and trying to take the phone with the other,” she said.

He is also accused of kicking the woman in 2014.

Mr Jackson has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, multiple counts of common law assault and intentionally damaging property.

The jury trial before Judge Frances Hogan will continue on Monday.

Originally published as Surf Coast man Christian Jackson takes stand in rape trial