Hong Kong woman denies she flirted with her alleged rapist
A 27-year-old Hong Kong clerk who has accused a Belgian businessman of raping her on their first night out denied flirting with him in earlier social media conversations.
A 27-year-old Hong Kong clerk who has accused a Belgian businessman of raping her on their first night out yesterday denied flirting with him in earlier social media conversations.
The woman, identified only as W, was testifying in the Court of First Instance against Frank Laurent, 32, who is also charged with raping a second woman and indecently assaulting a third between May and October 2013.
Daniel Marash SC, for Laurent, told the court that W flirted with Laurent in social media messages and invited him to go to Cambodia with her. She also regarded Laurent as a "handsome, smart and successful" man.
Marash said Laurent once asked her whether she would let him kiss her when they met, and she replied: "You may not like me when you see me. But will the kiss still exist?"
The alleged victim said she told Laurent about the Cambodia trip but did not believe he would go. She also denied she was flirting with Laurent in the messages.
Giving evidence from behind a screen, the woman admitted she considered Laurent as a possible boyfriend when they started to exchange messages online in late 2012.
"I think we should know each other for a period of time, have better understanding of each other, then … have kisses. After more dating and we know each other in a deeper level, then we could have sex," she said.
W said she had a university degree and had used different names to make friends on social media sites such as OKCupid and Skout. She said she was 25 years old when she met Laurent in person on May 1, 2013.
The court heard she accompanied Laurent back to his hotel room in Causeway Bay as he claimed to be feeling unwell. When they got to the room, Laurent kissed her, pushed her on the bed, then raped her.
"It felt very painful. I shouted at him to stop, but he ignored me," she said.
She told the court she took a shower to calm herself down after being raped and Laurent looked disappointed to see her leaving.
He walked her to the MTR station and gave her a goodbye kiss before she left. She said she was too tired to resist.
W said she did not report the rape immediately because she felt nobody would believe her as she had entered his room voluntarily and had washed all the evidence away during the shower.
She eventually made a report to police five months later.
Laurent denies two counts of rape and one of indecent assault against three women.
The trial continues today before Deputy Judge Mr Justice Michael McMahon.
