Tied to tree, raped, woman tells MD's trial
Warning: This story contains graphic details.
Last Updated: Thursday, October 18, 2007 | 7:06 AM NT
CBC News
A woman told a St. John's jury Wednesday that a physician tied her to a tree before launching a brutal sexual assault.
The woman, who cannot be named because of a publication ban, is the second witness to testify against Sean Buckingham, a physician facing 23 charges largely involving sexual assault and trafficking in prescription drugs.
Dr. Sean Buckingham faces charges involving drug trafficking and sexual assault.
(CBC)
The woman, now 24, told the Newfoundland Supreme Court trial that she has been addicted to cocaine since she was 13. She told the jury she became addicted to OxyContin before she was 18.
Court heard she has been convicted of persuading doctors to give her prescriptions for narcotics.
Buckingham, she testified, was one of the doctors who prescribed OxyContin — a powerful painkiller often meant to be used for cancer patients — to her.
She testified she gave Buckingham sexual favours for the prescriptions, starting with oral sex at his office. Eventually, she testified, she had sexual intercourse with Buckingham at his house on a regular basis.
Although she spoke clearly, the woman wiped away tears when she described an incident at the Sunshine Camp, a park on the outskirts of St. John's.
She testified that Buckingham once tied her to a tree and that they had anal sex. She told jurors that it hurt and that when she asked him to stop, he did not.
She said she was too ashamed to get treatment for the bleeding that ensued.
As well, she told the court, Buckingham whipped her with a branch while she was tied to a tree, leaving bruises on her back and legs.
Buckingham, she testified, paid her with a prescription for OxyContin.
She told the court she used OxyContin as recently as a few weeks ago, but she is now getting treatment.
Lawyers for Buckingham are expected to cross-examine her on Thursday.
The prosecution, which opened its case last week, said it will call seven complainants during the trial, which is expected to run eight weeks.
