Drug find sparked row, court is told

A woman accusing her former partner of sexual abuse and kidnap told the New Plymouth District Court that it is ‘‘not every day you find out that you are in love with a junkie’’.

The woman, who cannot be named, has accused Aaron Lee Wallace of kidnapping, unlawful sexual connection, threatening to do grievous bodily harm, injuring with intent to injure and three counts of male assaults female. He denies the charges. Crown prosecutor Justin Marinovich outlined the Crown’s case on Monday, saying Wallace had assaulted and sexually abused the complainant on

November 25, 2018.

The court previously heard that the woman had been at a party and Wallace had arrived at 3am. The pair got into a physical argument but left together.

They later drove to Back Beach, where she says a consensual sexual encounter became abuse and Wallace was threatening and violent. She said she managed to get away after using a ploy of going for cigarettes.

In court yesterday, defence lawyer Patrick Mooney suggested it was easy for the complainant to blame Wallace for the toxic nature of their relationship.

She responded, ‘‘Yes, it’s not ever day you find out you are in love with a junkie, is it?’’

Mooney then said, ‘‘You’re not without sin in that regard, are you?’’ but did not pursue the matter any further.

Mooney had earlier said the physical argument started after drugs were found in Wallace’s car.

The complainant disagreed that she was the only one throwing punches.

Mooney also went over text messages about Wallace coming out to the party.

‘‘At 10.07 (pm) you said it’s all right, he’s on his own, all good, right – but at 10.08 you’re really angry that he’s not going to come out. That’s not him losing the plot; that’s you losing the plot, isn’t it?’’

The complainant said that in that kind of relationship ‘‘you become this’’.

‘‘Lashing out like this is sort of a last resort.’’

Later, Mooney asked about the sexual encounter near Back Beach and suggested it was her idea to try something different. She said, ‘‘No, that’s a lie.’’ Mooney also suggested she had multiple opportunities of getting away from Wallace when they were at the shops, or to call for help.

The complainant said she could have done a number of things, but also said while she could get away physically she was scared of what he was capable of, and he had continued threatening her.

CCTV footage, played on court on Tuesday, showed the pair outside the Four Square in Moturoa shops, on St Aubyn St, in New Plymouth.

The complainant said Wallace was continuing to be verbally abusive and block her.

They walked to St Aubyn St, where a passerby entered the picture and appeared to hug the complainant.

The complainant said she could not recall what happened.

Later, evidence was read from a hospital nurse..

It said the complainant seemed like a strong person who now appeared to be at breaking point.

The complainant had told the nurse that she had had sex and it got rough. She was ragdolled and got thrown on the grass.

‘‘I told her this violence is not okay and asked her if anyone had notified the police.’’

The trial continues.