The first witness in the Danny Masterson trial broke down in tears onWednesday as she told jurors that the actor had raped her in April 2003.
The woman, who prefers to be identified as Jane Doe #1, testified that sheremembered waking up in Masterson’s bed, with him on top of her andpenetrating her. She said she tried to shove him away with a pillow, but hegrabbed her wrists with one hand and grabbed her throat with the other.
More from Variety
“I just couldn’t breathe,” she said, crying and daubing her face with atissue. “He squeezed really, really hard.” She added that she felt “that I wasgoing to die.”
“I can’t do this,” she said, a moment later, shaking her head. “I can’t dothis.”
The court took a recess. Jane Doe #1 returned to the stand after the break andcontinued to testify.
Masterson is on trial for three counts of forcible rape that could send him toprison for 45 years to life. The trial began on Tuesday with heated conflictover how much the witnesses will be allowed to delve into issues relating tothe Church of Scientology.
Masterson and all three of the accusers in the case were Scientologists at thetime of the incidents. Judge Charlaine Olmedo has allowed limited discussionof the church to show the relationships between witnesses and theirmotivation.
But she has also tried to exclude testimony that would be, in legal terms,“more prejudicial than probative.” She drew the line on Tuesday when Jane Doe#1 testified that Scientology warns its members against “fraternizing with theenemy” — meaning non-Scientologists — and that the goal of Scientology is to“clear the world.”
Before testimony resumed Wednesday morning, Olmedo advised Deputy DistrictAttorney Reinhold Mueller to keep a tight rein on such testimony.
“This is a rape case,” the judge said. “Go to the incidents.”
Story continues
Jane Doe #1 tested on Tuesday about her initial sexual encounter withMasterson in September 2002, in which she alleged that he anally penetratedher against her will.
On Wednesday, she testified that after that incident, she was sent to speakwith a church ethics officer and was “forced to make peace” with Masterson.She also said she was required to complete a few weeks of “ethics programs,”and was given to understand that she was responsible for the encounter.
“My understanding, my entire life, was that you can never be a victim,” shetestified. “Nothing ever happens to you that you didn’t cause. No matter whatcondition you find yourself in life, no matter how horrible, you areresponsible. You created that.”
She went on to testify about the subsequent sexual incident from April 2003.She told the jury that she went to Masterson’s house, he gave her something todrink and then threw her into the jacuzzi. She said she began to feel like shewould throw up, and she had trouble seeing.
She said Masterson volunteered to take her to a bathroom upstairs and put hisfingers down her throat to get her to throw up. She said she resisted — saying“no” — but that Masterson picked her up and brought her up the stairs.
She said she vomited in the bathroom, and Masterson then dragged her into theshower and turned the water on. At some point, she realized Masterson was infront of her, soaping her breasts with his hands. She said she took a swing athim, but she felt weak and the punch did not land with much force.
Then, she said, Masterson picked her up and put her on the bed, where shepassed out. When she awoke, she testified that Masterson was on top of her,with his full weight, penetrating her.
In the subsequent struggle, she said Masterson reached into a drawer in anightstand and pulled out a gun. She said he held it up and said, “Shut thefuck up.”
“What did you feel?” Mueller asked.
“Fear,” she answered.
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook,Twitter, and Instagram.
Click here to read the full article.