A former pastor grabbed his wife by the throat and told her he could do anything he wanted after she declined sex with him, a jury has heard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to raping his wife in their Northern Tasmanian home last year.
During her opening address, crown prosecutor Linda Mason told the Launceston Supreme Court there was a significant power imbalance during the couple's six years of marriage.
The court heard the accused laid out the family rules and expectations, he was the main bread winner and dictated who his wife could socialise with.
IN OTHER NEWS
The court was told the husband would tell his wife her mental health issues, which stemmed from a childhood trauma, impacted her ability to keep a clean house and be a good mother, despite the fact she'd received help for the issues.
The woman suggested getting counselling but was told they couldn't afford it, the jury was told.
The husband was controlling over the type of books, movies and television shows his wife and children were allowed to view, making his wife throw out her Harry Potter collection before they moved in together, the court heard.
While giving evidence on Tuesday, the woman said her husband told her he saved her by marrying her and that he was the head of the household.
"I thought he must know better and that there was something wrong with me," she said.
The woman started challenging her husband's rules after she attended a women-only church retreat in August 2017, the court heard.
Ms Mason said this sent the relationship was in free fall for the next 10 months.
The court heard on June 16 the couple fought in the morning about groceries, with the accused leaving the house to have coffee with a friend and returning later in the day with a bunch of pink lilies.
The accused allegedly went to embrace his wife as he gave her the flowers, but she stepped backwards from him and thanked him.
About 30 minutes after she went to bed her husband came in and started rubbing her back, shoulder, arms, bottom and the inside of her leg, the court heard.
"I said 'stop, I want to go to sleep'," the woman said.
Her husband allegedly put both hands around the woman's neck while she was lying on her side in bed and said: "I bought you flowers today."
After a failed attempt to penetrate his wife, the husband grabbed her breast, she rolled onto her back and he penetrated her vagina until he orgasmed, the woman said.
Defence lawyer Garth Stevens will cross-examine the women when the trial resumes today.
