Crown outlines extensive charges against alleged serial rapist
Complainant all intoxicated, unconscious, sleeping women
Sex acts were filmed, photographed and kept on his phone
His defence - sex with all of the women was consensual
Jury to hear from 15 women who reported sex attacks to police
Complaints span 12 years - some from former partners
First complainant’s harrowing 111 call played in court
Accused serial rapist John Hope Muchirahondo allegedly “helped himself” to women he met at parties or nights out “without consent or care” for 12 years.
The women were drunk or unconscious and some did not even know “sex” occurred until they were shown videoor images of themselves with Muchirahondo by police.
Muchirahondo, 38, is on trial in the High Court at Christchurch before Justice Lisa Preston and a jury.
He has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges of rape, nine of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection and one charge of failing to assist police with a search of his computer.
John Hope Muchirahondo on trial in the Christchurch High Court. Photo / RNZ
The charges relate to 15 women who were allegedly assaulted between 2009 and 2021.
It is alleged he filmed many of the assaults he has been charged with.
Several of the charges against him are representative. This means police believe Muchirahondo has committed multiple offences of the same type in similar circumstances.
Today the Crown opened its case, outlining the allegations against Muchiranhondo in detail for the first time.
“He had sex with them at different stages of intoxication - including unconsciousness,” said Crown prosecutor Will Taffs.
“Some didn’t even know sex occurred til later when videos or images were shown to them by police.
“Some woke up and found [Muchirahondo] inside them as they went in and out of consciousness.”
Taffs said the jury would hear extensive details about the alleged offending including accounts from each of the 15 women who made complaints to police.
And, they will hear about “patterns and trends” in the alleged offending.
“What the Crown says happened on each occasion was that the defendant was helping himself to women’s bodies without consent or care,” said Taffs.
He spent almost two hours summarising each of the 32 charges for the jury. Muchirahondo listened from the dock, showing little reaction.
Complainant one: ‘Blackout drunk’
The woman had been drinking at home with a friend in February 2021 before they went to a central city bar.
They continued drinking and ran into Muchirahondo.
He purchased the woman a drink and they later left together in a taxi.
“She thought she was catching a taxi home - instead it was to Mr Muchirahondo’s house,” said Taffs.
“She’ll say there are parts of what happened next that she doesn’t remember. She does remember going to sleep on the couch and woke up to Mr Muchirahondo on top of her, having sex with her.”
The woman was confused about what was happening.
John Hope Muchirahondo allegedly raped or sexually violated 15 women. Photo / Facebook
“Once he realised she was awake his body language changed,” Taffs continued.
The woman said she told Muchirahondo “over and over”: “I need to go home, I want to go home”.
She alleged she woke later to find Muchirahondo raping her.
She was “drifting in and out” and said she did not have the energy to stop what was happening.
“When she went to bed she wasn’t even aware Mr Muchirahondo was in the house,” said Taffs.
She thought he had left before she went to sleep and there had been “no discussion about him returning”.
Taffs continued to describe the rapes and violations the women alleged.
The third complainant encountered Muchirahondo after having dinner with a friend at a Christchurch restaurant, sharing a bottle of wine and following up with more drinks in central city bars.
When they decided to go home a group of men were invited to their table. Muchirahondo was with them.
The woman became very drunk and blacked out. Her next memory was being in room with Muchirahondo having “rough” sex with her.
John Hope Muchirahondo on trial in the Christchurch High Court 29 july 2024 on multiple counts of rape
Pool picture supplied
credit: Nate McKinnon, RNZ
She had no idea what was going on, and said no words were spoken when she opened her eyes.
She was “super confused” and said Muchirahondo was not someone she had considered having sex with or would choose to have sex with.
The fifth complainant said she’d had consensual sex with the accused and then went to sleep.
She woke to find Muchirahondo penetrating her again.
“She asked him what he was doing, she said ‘no’, she moved her body to the side,” said Taffs.
He pulled her back and carried on.
The sixth complainant met Muchirahondo at a bar in Christchurch. He introduced himself as a “prince” named Jordan.
She said he “wouldn’t stop”.
Taffs continued outlining the allegations.
A woman in “a state of paralysis who said Muchirahondo “did not ask permission” to pull down her pants and have sex with her. He “only stopped when she began to cry”.
He allegedly violated the woman and had sex with her “without her knowledge while she was unconscious”.
Again, he recorded the acts.
“She was unaware that video and images were being taken.”
Muchirahondo is on trial in the High Court at Christchurch. Photo / George Heard
Taffs told the jury “a large number” of explicit videos and images were taken from Muchirahondo’s phone showing him with a number of different women.
“Some of these women were asleep or unconscious,” he alleged.
“Police have not been able to identify who they are. The video and stills show Mr Muchirahondo engaging in sexual activity with these women while they sleep.”
“I don’t know his name… Ten minutes ago… I didn’t consent, I woke up to him…
“Oh god… he raped me.”
The operator stayed on the line with the woman, trying to comfort her until officers arrived.
“I can’t believe it… he said he didn’t want to get in trouble… I drank too much… oh God,” she cried.
“I don’t want my mum to find out I’ve been raped… she’ll be mad at me… I don’t want her to think I’m stupid, I didn’t mean for it to happen. I just woke up… What if I’m pregnant…”
She told police that she woke up because of the feeling of being violated.
Muchirahondo walked her home and tried to go inside with her.
“I said he couldn’t cos my mum was home. He left, I went inside and locked the door. I called the police.”
She told police she spoke to Muchirahondo “briefly” during the night.
“It was basic conversation… I hadn’t discussed anything like (having sex) with him. I barely talked to him,” she said.
She explained to the police that she got into a taxi expecting to go home and was “confused” when it stopped at Muchirahondo’s house.
Muchirahondo is facing more than 30 charges - mostly of rape. Photo / File
She had never been to the property before but her friend was there with her, it was close to her own place and she thought there was “no harm” in crashing on the couch and walking home the next day
“I just remember we went inside… and then remember him talking to (her friend) and that’s the last thing I remember,” she said.
Her friend told her she checked on her several times during the night.
Muchirahondo: I didn’t do it
The alleged serial rapist’s lawyer Anselm WIlliams also spoke to the jury this morning.
He said the jury would hear more from him after the Crown finished presenting its evidence.
But he wanted to address them early on behalf of Muchirahondo.
Williams acknowledged his client was facing very serious charges but reminded the jury that they had to approach their task without prejudice or emotion.
“Your role is not to judge [him] on moral grounds. You may not agree with the views that he expresses., the lifestyle that he leads.
“Your job is to decide this case on the evidence you hear... dispassionately.”
Williams said Muchirahondo emigrated to New Zealand in 2008 when he was 22.
“His father had 13 wives and he is one of 31 siblings,” he explained.
“He has a number of children to a number of different women here in New Zealand.
“You will hear more on that, and more about him as a person as the trial progresses. You need to bear in mind that background... when you’re considering the allegations.”
Williams said his client had engaged in sexual acts with many of the complainants, but he said every engagement was “with consent”.
“His defence is very simple,” he said.
“Mr Muchirahondo has never engaged in sexual activity as the Crown has described where a person has not consented.
“He has never committed rape and he has never committed any other offence amounting to sexual offending. That’s his defence.”
Operation Hope: How police charged Muchirahondo
The 36-year-old - born and raised in Zimbabwe - was arrested in February 2021 after he was accused of assaulting four women.
After he appeared in court for the first time - and after his interim name suppression lapsed - police made the rare move of releasing a statement about the alleged offender.
“We are now asking anyone who might have information or concerns, and has not yet come forward, to please reach out to us,” said Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves.
“We would like to reassure those who come forward that the information they provide us will be treated with sensitivity.”
That resulted in the charges relating to the other 11 women.
The trial continues.
Anna Leask is a Christchurch-based reporter who covers national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 18 years with a particular focus on family violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz
