Alleged serial rapist claims victim 'consented' by embracing him

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Sipho Lucas Phiri, the man dubbed Ekurhuleni's alleged serial rapist, is currently standing trial before the Pretoria High Court, sitting at the Benoni Magistrates Court.

On Tuesday, he testified that he believed that one of his victims consented to a sexual act because she allegedly wrapped her arms around him during the ordeal.

Phiri faces over 100 charges, including rape, kidnapping, pointing a firearm, fraud, obstruction of justice, and forcing someone to witness a sexual act.

READ: Alleged serial rapist claims victim consented to sex for R500 and a job offer

His alleged "reign of terror" took place between 2018 and 2023, involving the compiled cases of 37 women, which led to his eventual arrest.

Tuesday's testimony focused on the case of an adult woman who alleges she was raped by Phiri in 2021.

The allegedincident occurred in Putfontein, Ekurhuleni, after Phiri offered her a lift in his vehicle with the stated intention of taking her to work.

Phiri told the court that they took a detour after he offered her R500 to have sex with him in his vehicle, to which he claims she agreed.

Through his interpreter, Phiri claimed the woman initiated the act, quoting her:

"She asked me a specific question as to where we would have sexual encounter."

He then proceeded to laugh as he demonstrated how she allegedly held him during the ordeal.

"As we lay there, she was partaking in that she was embracing me with both her arms."

Phiri added that at no point did the woman try to escape.