Brian Myrick / The Idaho Press-Tribune by way of AP
Boise, Idaho — A girl who reported she used to be raped via an Idaho lawmaker whilst serving as a legislative intern testified within the former lawmaker’s trial on Wednesday, haltingly describing the moments the attack started ahead of impulsively leaving the witness stand.
“I will be able to’t do that,” the girl stated, briefly strolling out of the court docket.
The Related Press normally does now not establish individuals who say they’ve been sexually assaulted, and has referred to the girl on this case as “Jane Doe” at her request.
Doe used to be a 19-year-old intern when she informed her supervisors that then-Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger, a Republican from Lewiston, raped her at his Boise condominium after the 2 had dinner at a cafe.
Von Ehlinger, 38, has pleaded now not in charge to criminal fees of rape and sexual penetration with a international object, and maintains the 2 had consensual intercourse. He resigned from the Area of Representatives closing 12 months after a legislative ethics committee beneficial he be banned from the Statehouse.
Right through testimony Wednesday afternoon, Ada County Deputy Prosecuting Lawyer Katelyn Farley requested Doe to explain a piece of writing of clothes worn via von Ehlinger that day, probably to spot him to the jury.
“Blazer,” Doe stated, taking lengthy appears to be like across the room. When Farley requested her to explain the colour of von Ehlinger’s tie, Doe spoke back, “I will be able to’t.”
Maximum of Doe’s solutions had been continuously one or two phrases lengthy, and he or she ceaselessly regarded towards the jury or the go out door at the back of the court docket. At different instances her gaze landed at the protection desk the place von Ehlinger sat together with his protection legal professional, Jon Cox.
In the back of the lawyers, the gallery of the court docket used to be complete. Reporters, representatives from sufferer services and products and different onlookers sat side-by-side. One of the vital benches used to be reserved for a girl with a carrier canine – the animals are infrequently used to supply a supportive presence for witnesses who’re requested to present tough testimony.
Doe’s voice used to be quiet, and Cox many times interrupted her solutions to mention that he could not pay attention her. That brought about the pass judgement on to many times ask Doe to scoot nearer to the microphone, and lean in.
“I want you to take a look at me,” Farley informed Doe, once more.
“I will be able to’t,” she answered, having a look once more towards the rear go out door.
Based on Farley’s questions, Doe stated she ate at a cafe with von Ehlinger and that later on he drove her to his condominium in his automotive. Within, she sat down and had cookies. “Oreos,” she stated.
Then, she stated, von Ehlinger picked her up and carried her into his bed room.
“He laid me down … he got rid of his garments … he climbed on most sensible of me … in simply his boxers. White T-shirt,” Doe stated. “He attempted to position his hands between my legs and I closed my knees.”
At that, she stood up.
“I will be able to’t do that anymore,” she stated, fleeing the court docket.
The pass judgement on gave the prosecuting lawyers 10 mins to seek out her and notice if she would go back. When she didn’t, Reardon informed the jurors they needed to “strike (Doe’s testimony) out of your minds as though it by no means came about,” since the protection may now not cross-examine her.
It used to be the second one day of the trial. On Tuesday, jurors heard from police detectives and the nurse who finished a rape exam on Doe kind of 48 hours after she stated the attack happened.
The nurse testified that Doe informed her that she attempted to prevent von Ehlinger’s sexual advances via pronouncing she hadn’t shaved, that she wasn’t on start keep watch over and that she used to be menstruating. Doe additionally informed her that von Ehlinger had positioned the handgun he at all times carried on a cloth wardrobe close to the mattress, and that he pinned Doe all through the attack via mountaineering on most sensible of her and kneeling on her higher hands.
The detectives and nurse additionally informed jurors that Doe reported she informed von Ehlinger “no” all through the attack and stated he used to be hurting her. The nurse stated Doe reported arm ache all through the examination, and that she had a swollen “goose egg” at the again of her head that she stated came about when she attempted to jerk her head clear of von Ehlinger’s crotch, hitting the wall or a headboard.
Jurors additionally heard from forensic scientists who stated that DNA from physically fluids accumulated all through Doe’s rape examination matched von Ehlinger.
After Doe left the court docket, the prosecutor referred to as Laura King, an affiliate felony justice professor from Boise State College who’s a professional in sexual violence victimization.
King informed jurors that sufferers of a sexual attack continuously struggle, flee or freeze all through the attack, and that the hormones that cause the ones responses too can reason an individual to enjoy transient paralysis or dissociation, a psychological state the place they really feel disconnected from truth.
Those self same physiological responses together with dissociation too can occur when sexual attack survivors describe the attack, King stated. Such conduct would possibly appear ordinary, however this is a herbal response to an attack, she stated.
Cox requested King whether or not she knew the rest about von Ehlinger’s case. King stated she didn’t.
“You communicate in particular about those prerequisites – struggle, flight, freeze, dissociative occasions, tonic immobility – however you haven’t any concept as a result of you haven’t any details about this situation in particular, proper?” Cox requested King.
King agreed, pronouncing she used to be speaking normally concerning the analysis on sexual attack sufferers.
After King’s testimony, Farley stated the prosecution’s case used to be over.
Cox stated he would let the pass judgement on know on Thursday morning if von Ehlinger will testify in his personal protection.
If convicted, von Ehlinger may face a most penalty of existence in jail on each and every rate.