The third defence witness in the rape trial of the Leader of Jezreel Lion of Judah, Jone Cokanauto has told the Suva High Court that there was never a time that the first prosecution witness, the third defence witness and her friend were alone with Cokanauto in a room.
Defence lawyer Simione Valenitabua put to her that the first state witness told the court that she and her friend were kissing and touching Cokanauto.
The third defence witness Kelera Adi whose husband is related to Cokanauto, said that this did not happen.
When asked what the first state witness used to do during prayer sessions, she told court that she usually closed her eyes, and talked about her visions in a godly voice.
She said that the first state witness becomes the voice of God.
The woman said that Cokanauto did not fondle her and her friends breasts as alleged by the first state witness.
The defence witness told the court that Cokanauto’s teachings are from the whole bible.
She said that Cokanauto never preached about having sex with him for redemption.
The woman also told the court that Cokanauto never preached that he is Jesus and the women in the room were like the woman from Samaria.
The defence witness told the court that Cokanauto never preached that he needed to impregnate women.
During cross examination by the prosecution, the woman told the court that Cokanauto never told them to give their desires and feelings to him.
She confirmed that they used to pray in Cokanauto’s bedroom in Taveuni.
Justice Salesi Temo then asked her if they had a proper place to go and pray.
She said that it was in the church.
Justice Temo then asked her why there was a need to go and pray in Cokanauto’s bedroom if there were facilities to pray in church.
She said that if it is a difficult case where someone is possessed, they are prayed over in the bedroom.
Justice Temo then asked her why not pray in church that is where the godly spirits are.
She said that with the sick people they have to take them into the bedroom to be prayed upon.
The fourth defence witness told the court that Cokanauto never asked them to go to Nadera so that they can be redeemed by Cokanauto as alleged by the second state witness.
The witness is related to the second state witness who is one of the alleged rape victims.
She said that Jone Cokanauto equated the living water to marriage and how sacred marriage is and that the four complainants’ perceptions were false.
During cross examination she told court that her father, brother and sister in law were part of the ministry but they left and she remained with the group.
She said that her father left the ministry because he wanted to explore his own faith by himself and not because Cokanauto allegedly impregnated her sister.
She also confirmed that she was present in court when the fourth state witness was giving evidence.
The defence closed their case yesterday.
Both counsels will give their closing submissions today while Justice Temo will sum up the case tomorrow.
Cokanauto has pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape, four counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape.
It is alleged that he committed the offences in Nasinu and Taveuni between 2005 and 2012.
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