Man from religious community in Adelaide’s northern suburbs on trial for allegedly raping pregnant woman

A member of a northern suburbs religious community allegedly raped a pregnant woman because he claimed he had a relationship with her in a past life, a court has heard.

A man involved in a religious community in Adelaide’s northern suburbs allegedly raped a woman who was six months pregnant after telling her they needed to fulfil a relationship from a past life so she could achieve salvation, a court has heard.

A man, who can’t be identified for legal reasons, is standing trial in the District Court after he was charged with one count of indecent assault and one count of rape in July 2020.

The man has pleaded not guilty to both counts.

Prosecutor Tom Macura said in his opening statement the man was a member of a religious community.

“This trial is about power and its abuse,” he said.

The trial is being heard in the Adelaide District Court. Picture: File / Roger Wyman

“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.”

Mr Macura said the man had attended the alleged victim’s home on several occasions to discuss spirituality throughout the first six months of 2020 before he allegedly raped the victim on July 30, 2020, when she was six months pregnant.

“I expect the (alleged) victim will give evidence that the accused grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him, the victim told him ‘this is not right’,” he said.

“The accused said something about fulfilling their relationship from a past life.

“It is alleged that the accused guided (the alleged victim) to her bedroom and wrapped his arms around her and then placed his hands under (the victim’s) shirt.

“He pushed (the alleged victim) onto the bed causing her to scream in pain as she was around six months pregnant.

“(The alleged victim) was crying and screamed in pain.”

Mr Macura said the alleged victim will say, while giving evidence, that she did not tell her husband of the incident that night because “she lacked courage and that her husband admired the accused as a spiritual leader”.

Mr Macura said the alleged victim told her husband of the incident in August before she went to police who pressed charges and the man was arrested in September.

The trial before a jury continues.