Andy Ntunaguza's victim praised for 'bravery and honesty' after guilty verdicts in Calgary parkade rape trial

A Calgary jury has found Andy Dick Ntunaguzaguiltyof aggravated sexual assault for raping a woman in a downtown parkade.

The victimwas told the news over the phone just minutes after the verdict was announced by the jury foreperson.

"She was certainly relieved that this was the outcome," said prosecutor DevenSinghal."This is the end of a very long road for her."

• 'Broken people do broken things': Parkade rape trial hears from accused

Ntunaguza, 32, was on trial foraggravated sexual assault, forcible confinementand overcoming resistance by choking.

He closed his eyes as the jury announced his guilt on all three charges Thursday.

"He's very upset," said defence lawyer DaleFedorchuk. "He still maintains his innocence and said he was not the person involved in this. So clearly that's verydisturbing and disappointing for someone who still feels he's innocent."

Fedorchuk says he's advisedNtunaguzato speak with a lawyer about the possibility of an appeal.

Jurorsheard Ntunaguza'sDNA was found inside the victim, who was raped andbadly beaten on Dec. 20, 2015.

Both the victim and Ntunaguza were homeless at the time of the incident. She testified that she agreed to have sex with him for money but said that when she asked to see the cash, he became angry and began to attack.

During her testimony, the woman who can't be identified because of a publication ban pointed at Ntunaguza, calling him "my attacker."

The 49-year-old womansuffers from lupus and fibromyalgia.When she was found by asecurity guard hiding in a corner of theparkadeafter the attack, she'd been so badly beaten, her eyes were swollen shut.

Ntunaguza's lawyer told jurors he paid the victim forconsensual sex and thatit was an acquaintance of the accused who was wearing a blue jacket and pants matching the victim's description of her attacker's clothing who raped her minutes later.

Jurors began deliberations around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday after Court of Queen's Bench Justice Adam Germain's instructions on the law.

As he dismissed them after the verdicts, Germain thanked jurors for their service to their country.

Psychiatric reports have been ordered and Ntunaguza will be back in court on Jan. 30, 2018, for sentencing arguments.

In his final comments after the court proceedings, Singhal paid tribute to the investigators and victim.

"I'd like to thank Detective[Trish] Allen and the members of Calgary Police Service sex crimes for their very, very hard work on this file," said Singhal.

"Most of all, I'd like to thank the victim for herbravery and her honesty through this very arduous process."