Man found guilty by jury of raping pregnant woman in Adelaide’s north, telling her it would help her spiritual journey

A man in a small religious community in Adelaide’s northern suburbs who raped a pregnant woman told her it would “purify souls”.

A man has been found guilty of raping a pregnant woman, later telling her that some things have to be done to “purify other people’s souls’.

The man, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was found guilty by jury of rape and indecent assault after standing trial in the District Court last month.

Prosecutor Tomas Macura said in his closing address the man accused his victim of doubting his holy position after she told him she felt uncomfortable.

“The accused called (the victim) and asked her how she felt,” he said. “(The victim) told us in evidence she told him she was distressed and she did not feel happy with what ever happened.

“The accused told her that she is doubting him as a holy person.

“Before faintly saying he was sorry and ‘I am there to help you on your spiritual journey ... sometimes we have to do things, we have to take it on our heads to purify other people’s souls’.

“I suggest there was no other reason for the accused to apologise to (the victim) and that he said these things in the phone call because he touched (the victim’s) breasts and had sexual intercourse with her and he did that without her consent.”

The man stood trial in the District Court. Picture: Roger Wyman

The court previously heard the man was a member of a small religious community in Adelaide’s north.

“This trial is about power and its abuse,” Mr Macura said in his opening address.

“I anticipate that (the alleged victim) will tell you when she gives evidence that the accused said to her during one-on-one spiritual sessions that they had an unfulfilled relationship from a past life and that it was necessary for it to be fulfilled for (the alleged victim) to achieve salvation.

“On the prosecution case, the accused abused his influential role as a spiritual leader by pursuing his own sexual needs.”

Lawyer Ahura Kalali, for the accused, said there was no supporting evidence of the victim’s report of events and that she “wasn’t being honest” with the jury.

“She was withholding and you deserved the truth and you didn’t get that and that brings into question her credibility, her reliability,” he said in his closing address.

“In my submission to you, there are many aspects that do not fit and it’s not your duty to try and make it all work, to fill the gaps in.

“In my respectful submission to you, members of the jury, you didn’t hear the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, you didn’t get that.”

The man remains on bail and will next appear in the District Court later this month.