A dairy farmer in New Zealand is currently on trial facing 38 charges of sexual assault, including 15 counts of rape, along with charges of bestiality and indecent acts involving cows and calves. The man, whose identity is withheld to protect his accusers, stands accused of sexually abusing his wife and underage stepdaughter over a period of about two decades.
According to court testimony heard in Whangārei District Court, the stepdaughter alleged that the abuse began when she was under ten years old and continued with near-nightly rapes for roughly ten years. Crown Prosecutor Geraldine Kelly told the jury the victim experienced nearly 300 instances of rape during this time. The victim reportedly felt relief when her stepfather underwent a vasectomy, as pregnancy had been a concern for her prior to turning 12. Despite the abuse, she did not disclose the crimes out of love, confusion, and conflicted feelings about her body’s response.
The man is accused not only of sexually assaulting his family but also of engaging in sexual acts with farm animals. Prosecutors claim he told his wife about having sex with cows and made her watch while calves performed sexual acts on him. On at least 20 occasions, he allegedly forced his wife to have sex with him immediately after these acts, despite her expressing disgust. The farmer reportedly believed rape did not exist, asserting that women ultimately consent and enjoy sex, even telling his wife that “no means yes.”
The accused’s lawyer, Matthew Ridgley, denied the allegations of bestiality and described them as nonsense. He also argued that any sexual acts between the farmer and his wife were consensual, and that his client’s relationship with his stepdaughter, while acknowledged, was consensual and occurred only after she turned 16.
The trial is expected to last about three weeks as the court examines these serious and disturbing allegations.
