ROCKLAND, Maine — The trial began Tuesday morning in the case of a 27-year-old Rockport man accused of sexually assaulting a young woman who had passed out at his home after a night of drinking.
William S. Holbrook is charged with gross sexual assault and the trial is expected to last through Wednesday in Knox County Superior Court.
Assistant District Attorney Christopher Fernald told jurors in his opening statements that the victim had gone out drinking at the Smokestack Grill in Camden on the night of July 30, 2010. At that night spot, she met up with friends and decided eventually to go to the home of one of her friends.
The woman eventually passed out around 3 a.m. on the couch at the friend’s home. The prosecutor said the woman woke up at 5 a.m. to find her female friend’s boyfriend having sex with her. The victim was shocked and pushed Holbrook away, Fernald said. The assistant district attorney said the victim will tell jurors that Holbrook acted as if he had not done anything wrong and acted as if she owed him sex since she stayed over at his place.
The woman left the residence and went directly to another female friend’s home to report the sexual assault. The victim did not want to go the police because she was afraid it would be a waste of time, Fernald said.
Ultimately, the friend convinced the woman, who was living in Belmont, to go the hospital where she was checked for possible rape and evidence was gathered. Police were called and a search warrant was done at Holbrook’s residence.
DNA evidence will prove Holbrook had sex with the victim, Fernald said.
Defense attorney Steven Peterson urged jurors to keep an open mind and pointed out that the standard of proof was high to prove the alleged crime.
Peterson said the matter will come down to the credibility of the witnesses.
Justice Donald Marden is presiding over the trial.
A jury, including two alternates, of 12 women and two men is hearing the case.
If she woke up to find this loser “having sex” with her, the correct term is RAPE.
Hello? Editor? He assaulted a passed out woman on trial?
BDN writers and editors are masters at putting the right thing in the wrong place.
Until I got into the aricle itself, I was wondering how a woman on trial could be passed-out and raped.
Well, with a jury consisting of that many women, I dont think he has a chance. Considering the alleged crime was committed on a woman.
I’m not saying he’s either guilty or innocent, but I was thinking the same thing!
may I offer the comma.
something doesn’t sound right here…
Wow, would you say the same thing if it happened to your mother, your daughter, your sister, your girlfriend? The responsibility for the sexual asssault belongs to the person who commited it, not the victim. She was staying at the house of a friend and had a reasonable expectation to be safe there.
I was afraid to go to the Police because it would be a waste of time!????
This trial is a waste of time and money! Move on b–ch!
The difference between rape and romance is a matter of salesmanship.
The difference between rape and romance in a lot of countries is a hangman or in some areas, lobster bait! Glad you don’t know any of the women in my life.
Twelve women didn’t buy the story. So an innocent man (if he was) would have died due
to remorse. Makes me glad that I don’t know you or any of the women in your life. The woman in my life knows enough to stay out of the bars.
He was found innocent today in court.