A WOMAN told a jury yesterday how she felt powerless to stop years of sexual abuse and rape she suffered as a child.The woman was giving evidence in the first day of the Assize trial of Claude James Donnelly (69), known as Jimmy, who denies raping her on four occasions, indecently assaulting her nine times and commissioning her to commit an act of gross indecency on him between March 1968, when she was aged eight, and March 1973.
In the trial, which is part of the historical child abuse investigation but nothing to do with
the allegations centering on the former care home Haut de la Garenne, the jury were told by Donnelly’s counsel, Advocate Mike Preston, that Donnelly admitted indecently assaulting the woman twice when she was 13 or 14.
Crown Advocate Stephen Baker told the jury of seven women and five men that Donnelly was about 27 when he first starting assaulting the girl, then about eight, and that the sexual assaults became more serious, culminating in repeated rape. Advocate Baker said that although the jury would hear evidence from an adult woman, she was describing events which had happened to her as a child. ‘It is that immature child and her thoughts and behaviour you will need to consider,’ he said.
The cross-examination of the woman continues today. The case, which is being heard in the Royal Court is expected to last for the rest of the week.
Article posted on 16th June, 2009 - 3.00pm
Court hears of ‘years of abuse’