The first prosecution witness in the rape trial of the Leader of Jezreel Lion of Judah, Jone Cokanauto has told the High Court that she joined the Jezreel Lion of Judah group in 2002 after leaving primary school, and she was raped and impregnated by Cokanauto.
The 30-year-old woman who was allegedly raped by Cokanauto on three separate occasions and was also impregnated twice by Cokanauto, said that Cokanauto claimed that all women needed to be cleansed because they are the Temple of God and their wombs will also have to be cleansed.
While giving evidence in court, the woman said that Cokanauto used to touch the private parts of some women in the group and pray for them.
The state witness said that Cokanauto also had sex with the women as he told them that this is part of the cleansing process.
She said that Cokanauto had sexual intercourse with the female followers again to impregnate the women as she said that he told them that the child that will be born will become the children of God.
The woman says that only some members had accepted it as the biblical teaching by Jone Cokanauto and at that time she had also accepted it as a biblical teaching.
She says that she recalls being in Cokanauto’s bedroom with two of her colleagues and Cokanauto, and they were praying.
This occurred in February 2005 and she was 18 at the time.
The 30-year-old woman claims that he told them to close their eyes and open their souls and while praying he told them to submit their desires to God.
The woman said that when she opened her eyes she saw her 2 colleagues kissing Cokanauto.
She said that he told them to close their eyes and if they want sexual intercourse then they should submit themselves to him.
In a separate incident, the first state witness told the court that she was asked by Cokanauto to massage him in Nadera and he later had sexual intercourse with her.
The woman told the assessors that Cokanauto had said to her that the process to redeem her was not complete and it will get completed if they had sexual intercourse.
She said that she did not tell anyone about this incident as she believed Cokanauto’s teachings that she will be cleansed after having sexual intercourse with him.
She also told the court that she had two children with Jone Cokanauto.
The woman wept as she gave this evidence.
When asked by DPP lawyer, Meli Vosawale on the reaction from the members of the church, she said the church members also believed that it was the child of the holy spirit.
The woman said that the child is now in USA and is being looked after by a member of their prayer team.
She also told the court that she had another child with Cokanauto who passed away before June 2008.
The woman told the court that Cokanauto taught them about Abraham having two wives and that he also wanted to be like Abraham.
Cokanauto has pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape, four counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape before Justice Salesi Temo.
It is alleged that he committed the offences in Nasinu and Taveuni between 2005 and 2012.
The state will produce 11 witnesses in the rape trial.
The trial will continue today in the Suva High Court.
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