Howard Rollins was there 'in the flesh' body modification trial hears
The alleged victim of two body modifiers, facing trial for genital mutilation, has clashed with one of the modders' barristers who suggested she is contradicting her statements to police and making up evidence on the stand. DISTURBING CONTENT
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A woman who allegedly had her genitalia mutilated with a “branding iron” by two body modifiers has clashed with a lawyer who suggested she lied about one man being there "in the flesh" for the secretive surgery.
Luna Cobra was one of three modifiers working in NSW in 2015 when the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly had her labia minora “excised” by prominent modder BSlice, a court previously heard.
Police allege BSlice - Brendan Russell - performed the main procedure, cutting and cauterising her flesh, while Luna Cobra - Howard Rollins - instructed him.
Russell and Rollins are both facing separate trials - Russell for the alleged mutilation and Rollins for allegedly assisting in the procedure - and both have pleaded not guilty.
The woman appeared to repeatedly contradict the police case on the third day of Rollins’ trial on Thursday.
The court previously heard Rollins had held her labia as Russell drew lines and prepared to cut her in January 2015.
“You never said that in any part of your early statements… that Howard Rollins touched your labia or any part of your body,” Rollins’ barrister, Margaret Cunneen SC, said to the woman.
Ms Cunneen suggested the woman had been making up evidence on the spot, but the woman disagreed.
“I know my vagina like the back of my hand… (Rollins) was there, in the flesh, in between my legs next to Brendan, injecting me and burning away my labia,” the woman said in a raised voice.
Ms Cunneen pressed the woman saying she repeatedly told police Rollins had not touched her labia or body at any time.
The woman said she was being “degraded” and “humiliated” by Ms Cunneen’s questions and said she “didn’t want to do this anymore”.
“I feel like I’m going to throw up,” she said.
The woman was quizzed on the electric cauterising instrument which police say was used to remove her labia.
“Do you say your labia was removed by way of burning or cutting?” Ms Cunneen asked.
“Burning,” the woman responded.
“Did you smell a smell of burning?” the barrister asked.
“My head’s not in my vagina,” the woman responded.
The woman also appeared to go against earlier evidence when she said she never went back to the Newcastle tattoo and piercing studio after the labia removal procedure.
She was shown an email where Russell allegedly told her how to care for stitches to her finger - where she said she had a magnet implanted - and again after she had her dimples pierced.
The woman also told the court Rollins didn't move what appeared to be a “birthing chair” into the room for her to sit on during the labia procedure.
That also appears contrary to the police prosecutor’s opening statement that Rollins acted as an accessory to the crime, in part, because he helped Russell move what they said was a "barber" style chair.
Ms Cunneen suggested the woman was struggling to remember who she’d seen at the studio that day and the movements of Rollins in and out of the room, adding her memory was affected by valium given to her before the procedure.
“Brendan and Howie were in the room - my labia didn’t just jump off by itself,” the woman said.
Rollins doesn’t deny being at the Newcastle studio on the day Russell allegedly performed the operation - but he denies being in the room as it was done, he also denies instructing or coaching Russell through the operation or any other involvement other than to tell the woman she didn't need to go through with it.
The trial continues.