Spanish banker husband ‘raped Chinese wife after being locked out of Hong Kong flat’, court hears
High Court hears alleged attack happened after police and firefighters helped woman break into the flat when defendant did not answer phone
PUBLISHED : Friday, 14 August, 2015, 3:40pm
UPDATED : Saturday, 15 August, 2015, 1:59am
Julie Chu
[email protected]
The trial continues at the High Court. Photo: Sam Tsang
A Chinese wife accused her Spanish banker husband of raping her after she called the emergency services to break into their flat, which he had locked her out of, the High Court heard yesterday.
The 34-year-old banker, whose name cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, denies one count of rape against his now former wife.
Prosecutor Sabrina See told the jury in the opening speech, the victim, who is from the mainland, was not aware a wife could accuse a husband of rape in Hong Kong when she first made a report to police on April 24, 2013.
See said it was only after the victim talked to a friend that she came to know Hong Kong law offered women such protection, and she made another report to police two days later.
"She could exercise her right as a woman to object to having sex with her husband," See said.
The victim, 29, testified that she came to know the banker when she was studying in Beijing in around 2006 to 2007 and they fell in love then.
After the banker got a job in Hong Kong in 2009, the victim also found work in the city and moved into his home. They married in September 2010.
The victim said she returned to their flat in Wan Chai at around 1am on April 24, 2013. She could not open the door with her keys as it had been locked from inside.
She called her husband some 30 times but he did not answer, even though she could hear the phone ringing inside the flat. She then called police and firefighters to force their way in and found her husband sleeping in the bedroom, smelling of alcohol.
After the emergency services left, she said her husband scolded her for calling police and breaking in. He also asked her to pack her stuff and leave.
She tried to explain that she was worried about him but he replied in a mocking manner: "You worry about me?"
The wife said she felt humiliated and scared at the time. She entered the bedroom and tried to get her pyjamas but he pushed her out, causing her to fall onto the sofa.
She testified that he then pulled down his shorts and tried unsuccessfully to force her into a sex act. She said his face was red and distorted with excitement as he warned her he would kill her if she shouted for help.
He used one hand to grab her by the neck and raped her on the sofa, with the ordeal lasting for about 10 to 20 seconds.
"I was very sad and heartbroken," the victim said.
When he released her after the alleged sexual assault, she grabbed her handbag and ran out of the flat.
She took a taxi to Wan Chai police station and told officers her husband had forced her to have sex.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Albert Wong Sung-hau on Monday.
