A woman who alleges she is a victim of sex crimes committed by Doctor Strange actress Zara Marke and her husband Victor has spoken to the jury at their trial and claimed that she felt she had no option but to speak “my truth”.
Addressing the jury as she took the stand at the hearing, the female accuser was audibly emotional when telling the jury that she had just become a mother and “never wanted anyone else to have to go through” what she says she did.
The alleged victim says that the Marke’s – who are both Nottinghamshire based sports coaches – touches her sexually on numerous occasions when she was a child.
The court heard that the alleged assaults began when Zara Marke – known in Hollywood as Zara Phythian – asked her if she would play a game of “dare”.
(Image: Nottingham Post / BPM Media)
Nottingham Crown Court heard how Zara, 36, allegedly persuaded the young girl to carry out a sex act on Victor Marke, he then had sex with them both.
The victim claimed that she was unsure of how to react to what happened and that it was a repeated occurrence.
She said in a recorded police interview: “I think they saw a vulnerability in me and they preyed on that.”
The woman also claimed that sex toys were introduced but “it was a phase” which they faded out.
(Image: GETTY)
Years later the alleged victim reported that Zara Phythian and Victor Marke had engaged in sexual contact with her.
The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told the court: “At that point in time I had just become a mum and had no other option than to speak my truth and never allow it to happen to anyone else again.”
Francis McGrath, representing Victor Marke, 59, suggested there was no sexual activity as described and asked the accuser if she accepted or denied the fact.
She responded “that is a wrong statement”, and admitted that she would never have come forward if it wasn’t for a police officer knocking on her mum’s door.
She said: “I could never have made a report. I would have died with my shame.”
(Image: Tom Maddick SWNS)
When questioned further she added: “That was just my deepest, darkest secret. I envisaged, if I’d tell anybody, my family will hate me.”
The Marke’s stand charged with 14 allegations of sexual activity, all of which they deny.
Victor Marke is also accused of four further allegations, all denied, of historic indecent assault on a second teenage girl.
This alleged victim told police officers she was “groomed and sexually touched” by Victor Marke, who was many years her senior.
She alleged that he touched her, kissed her face, and had sex with her when she turned 16.
(Image: Nottingham Post / BPM Media)
She told an officer: “I’d never done anything like that at all.”
Ahmed Hossain QC, prosecuting told the jury: “Both of those defendants commanded admiration and respect within the martial arts world and the prosecution case is that Victor Marke groomed these two separate complainants when they were children and that he used his position of trust and authority to make them feel special so that he could satisfy his sexual urges.
“And, it is the prosecution’s case that Zara Marke was part of that process and Zara Marke acted, as is alleged, with Victor Marke.”
The trial continues.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
