Kidnap, sex acts trial starts

A Taranaki man armed with knuckle dusters used chains and knives to keep a pregnant woman locked in a house while sexually violating and attacking her, a court has heard.

Derek Manihera Stubbings is on trial at New Plymouth District Court defending nine charges relating to an incident which occurred early December 2017.

At an earlier appearance, Stubbings pleaded not guilty to three charges of male assaults female, two of indecently assaulting a female over the age of 16, and one each of assaulting a child, threatening to kill and assault with a blunt instrument.

Yesterday, the trial-by-jury, comprising eight women and four men, began with Crown prosecutor Georgia Milne’s opening address in which she described the alleged incident as a case of serious domestic violence.

She alleged the abuse followed days of tension between Stubbings and the complainant, who had just discovered she was pregnant.

On the morning of December 6, Stubbings allegedly pushed the complainant’s daughter, who was then 4 years old, resulting in her falling on to her back.

Arguing between Stubbings and the complainant continued into the day before culminating late that evening at a New Plymouth address they shared.

Stubbings allegedly donned a pair of knuckle dusters, held his fist to the complainant’s head and threatened to ‘‘crush her skull’’, Milne alleged.

Soon after, he punched the complainant in the face, picked her up and threw her on to a bed in the lounge, Milne said.

‘‘She lay on the bed, crying and yelling for help. She repeatedly tried to leave the room but he stopped her. He would pick her up and throw her back on the bed.’’

Milne alleged Stubbings had used chains and knives to lock windows and doors.

Over the evening, he continued to threaten her while wearing the knuckle dusters.

He has also been accused of sexually violating the woman on two occasions throughout the alleged ordeal.

Milne said Stubbings left the house later that evening. The complainant used this time to lock herself inside.

The next morning she woke to hear Stubbings banging at the door. She let him in and the pair continued arguing.

Milne said the woman ran from the house to the street where she saw a neighbour who she asked to phone the police.

Defence counsel Turitea Bolstad chose not to make an opening address.

The Crown began calling witnesses yesterday afternoon, including the complainant who gave evidence behind a screen.

The Crown indicated a number of witnesses would be called in the case against Stubbings, including the complainant’s young daughter.

The trial, before Judge Gregory Hikaka, is expected to run until Thursday.

‘‘She lay on the bed, crying and yelling for help. She repeatedly tried to leave the room but he stopped her.’’