Look Here for the article in the "Waikato Times; Hamilton, New Zealand, Aug 7, 2002".
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`I can imprison you,' judge tells church man
Waikato Times ; Hamilton, New Zealand; Aug 7, 2002; BOYES, Nicola;
| Sub Title: | [2 Edition] |
|---|---|
| Start Page: | 5 |
Giving evidence at the trial in the Hamilton District Court, Frederick Marriner, an elder in the Jehovah's Witness church, refused to say what the accused told him about his relationship with his wife.
Several people involved in the Jehovah's Witness church gave evidence against the accused yesterday. They included a family friend who said she and the accused had talked about problems he was having with his wife.
| Full Text: | |
| Copyright Independent Newspapers, Ltd. Aug 7, 2002 |
A Jehovah's Witness elder has been told he could go to jail for not giving evidence against a former member of his church facing rape and sexual assault charges.
A 35-year-old Hamilton man has denied charges of raping and sexually abusing his wife over nine years.
Giving evidence at the trial in the Hamilton District Court, Frederick Marriner, an elder in the Jehovah's Witness church, refused to say what the accused told him about his relationship with his wife.
"I'm a minister of a religion and with respect to the court and the judge I really feel I don't want to discuss that because I feel it was given in confidence . . . and what if I wasn't to answer that?," he said to Judge Robert Wolff.
The judge told him: "One of the consequences may be that I can imprison you."
Mr Marriner is seeking legal counsel on the matter.
Several people involved in the Jehovah's Witness church gave evidence against the accused yesterday. They included a family friend who said she and the accused had talked about problems he was having with his wife.
She told Crown Prosecutor Mark Sturm that on one occasion when she and her husband visited the couple the complainant, who cannot be identified, was in bed crying, saying her husband had raped her.
The complainant's son gave evidence that the accused told him he had raped his mother.
The adult son was still living with the accused at that time and moved home with his mother.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel Tom Sutcliffe, he admitted he moved back into the accused's home after a falling out with his mother.
Meanwhile a juror was stood down yesterday after it was discovered she knew the accused's sister. (Proceeding).
Edited by - hawkaw on 9 August 2002 14:51:16
Edited by - hawkaw on 9 August 2002 15:8:38
Edited by - hawkaw on 9 August 2002 15:10:51