Jurors had been visibly upset as they had been proven footage of a scholar allegedly raping a girl.
Zhenhao Zou, a 27-year-old Chinese language nationwide who was learning within the UK, is on trial at Inside London Crown Court docket accused of drugging and raping 10 girls between 2019 and 2023.
One member of the jury was in tears as two 10-minute clips had been performed, which prosecutors say present the defendant raping a girl recognized solely as Feminine A.
Mr Zou remained impassive within the dock because the clips had been performed. He denies 11 counts of rape in addition to three counts of voyeurism, 12 of possession of an excessive pornographic picture, one in every of false imprisonment and eight of possession of a managed drug with intent to produce.
Mr Zou, from Elephant and Citadel in south London, studied for a grasp’s diploma at College School London from 2019 by means of to 2021 earlier than starting a PhD on the identical college.
Warning: The next story comprises descriptions which can be distressing
Within the first clip proven in courtroom, the defendant could be seen positioning the digicam to level at a unadorned girl who’s mendacity immobile on a mattress in a room the place a blind is drawn. Mr Zou, whose defence is that the encounter was consensual, then goes on to have intercourse along with her.
Feminine A advised him to cease, the courtroom heard.
Within the second clip, which happened in what prosecutors mentioned was the identical room, the defendant was once more seen having intercourse with Feminine Some time she advised him to cease, the courtroom heard.
It’s not recognized when the clips had been filmed or who Feminine A is.
Giving proof, Det Con Jack Woods advised jurors: “There seems to be a number of scratches on (Mr Zou’s) again on either side.”
Det Con Woods mentioned the clips appeared to have been filmed at Woburn Place close to Russell Sq. in central London, the place Mr Zou was dwelling from September 2019 to September 2020.
Jurors got breaks after the quick clips had been performed, and extra movies might be proven to them afterward Thursday.
The trial continues.
