Baptist minister Alofa Talouli Masina awaits judge’s verdict in rape trial
Alofa Masina has sat in the dock clutching a leather-bound bible throughout the duration of his ACT Supreme Court trial, in which it has been alleged he raped a devout follower by tricking her into sleeping with him.
Hyperlocal
Don't miss out on the headlines from Hyperlocal. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Male prostitute and former top Canberra bikie behind bars
- Shock after verdict in Queanbeyan rugby player’s rape trial
- Jason Pikula-Carroll finally admits to murdering artist Eden Waugh
Sydney Baptist minister Alofa Talouli Masina is expected to learn by the weekend whether he will be found guilty of a sex attack on a woman as part of a prayer service.
Masina, 54, has sat in the dock clutching a leather-bound bible throughout the duration of his ACT Supreme Court trial, in which it has been alleged he raped a devout follower by tricking her into sleeping with him.
The week-long trial has heard the woman feared she would be cursed if she didn’t have sex with Masina.
The prosecution case is that Masina’s trickery negated her consent to having sex.
He has pleaded not guilty to rape and three counts of indecency.
The trial also heard from three other women, who allege Masina used a “prayer of deliverance” as a ruse to make sexual advances on them.
Masina is not charged with abusing those women, but the prosecution argues it shows his “tendency” to use the one-on-one prayer sessions improperly touch women.
In closing arguments on Wednesday, crown prosecutor Skye Jerome said Justice David Mossop should overlook minor inconsistencies in the evidence and find Masina guilty of all four charges.
Masina’s case is that he was not in Canberra on the day the alleged rape took place.
When confronted by a member of the Baptist community over the allegations, Masina is alleged to have said: “I’m not going to say that (the victim) is right or (the victim) is wrong, all I can say is it is between me and the Holy Spirit”.
Ms Jerome said if Masina had not done what was alleged of him, he would have simply denied it.
She said it was possible for the alleged victim to have not noticed a tattoo on Masina’s arm, one fact which the defence says raises doubt about whether the alleged rape took place.
Masina’s barrister, Gregor Urbas, said there was enough doubt surrounding the allegations that his client should be acquitted.
Justice David Mossop, who is hearing the case without the jury, told the court he will deliver his verdicts on Friday afternoon.