Witness tells court that Cokanauto told church members that he is Jesus and his sperm will cleanse women spiritually

The first prosecution witness in the rape trial of the Leader of Jezreel Lion of Judah, Jone Cokanauto has told the High Court that Cokanauto told them in the church sermons that he is Jesus and his sperm will cleanse the women spiritually.

During the cross examination, defence counsel Simione Valenitabua asked the 30-year-old woman if Cokanauto talked about sexual intercourse in their church.

The woman who was allegedly raped by Cokanauto on three separate occasions and was also impregnated twice by Cokanauto, said in court that Cokanauto talked about sexual intercourse in his sermons.

When questioned by Valenitabua, the alleged victim said that Cokanauto said in his sermons that once a woman’s womb is cleansed, a baby will be born.

Valenitabua then put to the 30-year-old woman that she was not raped by Cokanauto in Taveuni and Nadera.

The woman maintained that she was raped by Cokanauto.

The prosecution witness told the court that she did not tell anyone about the incident because she believed in his preaching.

She joined the Jezreel Lion of Judah group in 2002 after leaving primary school, and she was allegedly raped and impregnated by Cokanauto.

Cokanauto has pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape, four counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape before Justice Salesi Temo.

It is alleged that he committed the offences in Nasinu and Taveuni between 2005 and 2012.

The trial continues in the Suva High Court.