'I knew my life was in danger,' victim testifies at Calgary parkade rape trial

The brutal beating and rape felt like it took "forever," according to the woman who testified Wednesday that she was attacked by Andy Ntunaguza in a downtown parkade in December 2015.

The woman who can't be identified because of a publication ban didn't hesitate when asked if the man who raped her was in the courtroom.

"My attacker he's sitting right over there," she said, pointing at Ntunaguza, who was sitting in the prisoner's box.

• 'Savage sexual attack': Parkade rape trial jury hears DNA evidence

Ntunaguza is on trial for aggravated sexual assault, forcible confinementand overcoming resistance by choking, all charges stemming from the 2015 attack. Jurors have already heard a rape kit used on the victim tested positive for Ntunaguza's DNA.

Photos taken at the hospital afterwardshow the woman'sface so badly beaten, her eyes were swollen shut.

The victim is 49 years old, has been homeless for much of her life, and suffers from lupus and fibromyalgia.

In front of a courtroom packed with people, she calmly detailed a terrifying night of violence and violation, her gritty demeanour betrayed only once.

"When someone is getting raped, it is very difficult," she said. "You just want to get it over and done with.

"In your head you're praying that he does not try to," she trailed off, quietly crying.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Adam Germain ordered a brief break to allow the witness to compose herself.

'I realized there was going to be a problem'

The victim said she met Ntunaguza in the early morning hours of Dec. 20, 2015. First, he wanted a crack pipe, which she didn't have, then he offered her $60 for oral sex, according to her testimony.

"He approached me as a prostitute, a working girl, lady of the evening," she clarified for prosecutor Deven Singhal.

The pair walked into The Bay parkade downtown. She testified she wanted to see the money first.

"He was getting very aggressive and very angry," she said. "Then I realized there was going to be a problem with me and the accused."

The witnesssaid she tried to get away, the accused caught up and began punching her in the face.

'Like fighting with Mike Tyson'

He tried to throwher on the ground andthe punches continued, but she said she wasn't going down without a fight.

"It was like I was almost fighting with Mike Tyson."

At one point, she got away, but she saidNtunaguza caught up with her again.

"I knew my life was in danger."

He grabbed her by her hair, called her "bitch" and threatened to slit her throat, said the woman.While on her hands and knees, Ntunaguza then raped her, she said.

Defence suggests sex was consensual

Once he was finished, she ran away, hiding in acorner until a security guard found her and called 911. Police and paramedics arrived and took the battered woman to the hospital.

In his cross examination, defence lawyer Dale Fedorchuk suggested the victim had consensual sex with Ntunaguza for $50 and was attacked later on by someone else.

"I'm going to suggest to you that you have confused Mr. Ntunaguza with your actual attacker," said Fedorchuk.

Cross-examination will continue Thursday morning.

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