Woman tells rape trial: “I feared for my life”

Tuesday 25 August 2020

The trial of a man who denies raping a woman after threatening her with a knife at a St. Helier hotel has begun in the Royal Court.

Indian national Vikas Dhar (43) is accused of two counts of rape at an apartment at the Sarum Hotel in Old St. John’s Road, where he was staying while on a business trip last September.

Opening the prosecution case before a 12-person jury, Crown Advocate Julian Gollop began the trial, which is expected to last five days, by describing the Crown’s version of events - that consensual sex between Mr Dhar and his accused was followed by non-consensual intercourse.

They had met for the first time just after 02:00 on 14 September 2019 outside the Royal Yacht Hotel. They walked through town to the Sarum Hotel, holding hands for most of the way, before going to Mr Dhar’s hotel apartment.

Pictured: The woman claims she was raped at the Sarum Hotel.

After having consensual sex, the woman noticed that Mr Dhar was wearing a wedding ring, and he told her he was married with two children, said Advocate Gollop. It was then that the mood reportedly changed.

Giving evidence behind a screen in Court, the woman said: “I told him I couldn’t be there with a married man because it was wrong.

“He seemed to get angry. He jumped up and said, 'No, you’re not leaving till the morning.' I said, 'No, I have to go.'

“Then he was out of the room in a flash and he was back as quick as he had gone. He was still naked but his face had completely changed. He was angry and was stood there holding a knife. 

“I thought, 'Is this it? Is this when I’m going to die?' He stood glaring at me. He then went out again. I thought this was my chance to get out, but again he was back as quick as a flash. 

“He told me to get on the bed. I think I said no but I cannot be 100% sure. I was crying a lot but he did not say a word. He told me to get on the bed and I complied because he had had a knife.”

The woman then claims she was raped. Afterwards, Mr Dhar left the room, which allowed the woman to get changed and leave the hotel. 

She told the trial that after leaving, she could hear Mr Dhar following her down the stairs, but she hid in the hotel courtyard “utterly terrified” while he looked for her. But he went back inside and she then telephoned the police from the hotel reception.

The trial, presided over by Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae, continues on Tuesday, when the woman is expected to be cross-examined by Advocate Olaf Blakeley, who is defending Mr Dhar.