First complainant gives evidence at Arthur Allan Thomas trial

The first complainant to testify against Arthur Allan Thomas has given evidence for the whole of the second day of the trial.

Thomas is facing five historic charges – four of sexual assault and one of rape – brought by two complainants.

The complainant’s police interview was played to the jury in closed court this morning.

In it, the complainant described feeling numb during an alleged rape by Thomas.

“I felt numb, I don’t remember any particular pain,” she told the police interviewer. “It was just like I blotted it out.”

She testified it was like Thomas had “a kind of power over her” and it was like “it wasn’t real”.

Arthur Allan Thomas faces four counts of sexual assault and one of rape, with the Crown saying it will call a witness who will support the allegations.

Under cross examination, the complainant denied the allegations were false.

She said was aware she could have gone to the police prior to 2019 when she was formally interviewed at the Manukau Police Station.

There are a number of suppression orders in place to prevent the identification of the complainants, including the dates and location of the offending.

The trial will resume tomorrow with the second complainant taking to the witness stand to give evidence.

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