Harare – Socialite Mai Jeremaya whose real name is Ashley Masendeke had a tough time under cross examination Harare magistrate court in the rape trial in which two men are accused of raping her.
Masendeke was cross examined by Shepherd Makonde, the attorney for Thabo Blessing Dube and Martin Nigel Charlie who are facing charges of raping her.
A CCTV footage showing the motor vehicle a Toyota GD6 that had Dube, Charlie and Masendeke arrived at the lodge at 15 Frank Johnson in Eastlea at 18:10 and left at 19:15.
The video was presented by Makonde.
The following questions and answers were heard in court between the defence lawyer Makonde and Masendeke.
”You told the court that you removed your clothes on your own?,” Makonde asked.
”Yes,” Masendeke said.
”You told the court that you set on the bed with the accused person,” Makonde asked.
”Yes,” Masendeke answered.
”Are you the one who removed the bra and the pulling stockings?,” Makonde asked.
”Yes, I was told to do so,” Masendeke said.
”He did not jump on you he started fondling your breasts to solicit consent in a romantic moment?,” Makonde said.
”It was not romantic, I was crying and was told to stop crying,” Masendeke said.
”Is it true that you went on his top during the sex act?,” Makonde asked.
”Yes,” Masendeke said.
”Is it correct that you directed his manhood into your womanhood?,” Makonde said.
”Yes, because he had failed,” Masendeke said.
”In your statement you said it was Martin who removed your bra and not yourself,” Makonde asked.
”Yes,”Masendeke said.
Masendeke said she had been threatened by Dube and Charlie before they raped her.
The defence told Masendeke that she had not been coerced into having sex as she took off her clothes on her own before engaging in oral sex.
”Was it not important to tell the police that you assisted the accused person to penetrate you?,” Makonde asked.
”If I had known all those nitty gritties were supposed to be in a police statement I would have given them that information,” Masendeke answered.
”Now you took $20 what was it for?,” Makonde asked.
”I don’t know,” Masendeke said.
”You told the court you took the money..why did you take it?,” Makonde asked.
”I don’t know,” Masendeke said.
”Did you take the money to the police?,” Makonde asked.
”No, I didn’t take it to the police,”Masendeke said.
Masendeke in her evidence in chief had told the court that she gave the US$20 to the husband of her friend.
But under cross examination it was exposed that she bought a coke and other things on her way home on the day she was allegedly raped.
Masendeke’s friend is expected to be brought before the court on Tuesday June 24 for trial continuation.
Cynthia is the one who reportedly told Masendeke’s husband that her wife had been raped after Masendeke had narrated her ordeal.
Masendeke told the court Cynthia told her husband about the rape without her approval which angered her.
Masendeke also told the court that she left Cynthia’s home after the latter had tried to exorcise her using traditional snuff known as ‘bute’ in Shona by blowing her the snuff using a pipe.
The defence maintained that what happened was transactional sex between Masendeke and Charlie of which US$20 was the agreed fee which was paid.
Masendeke said both Charlie and Dube raped her four times.
Editor’s note: Ashley Masendeke made her rape public and this publication is naming her in the story because she has put her rape ordeal in public.