'You've been very brave': Final two women testify at trial of alleged serial rapist

CBC

24-05-2025

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WARNING: Court proceedings include allegations of sexual assault and might affect those who have experienced​ ​​​sexual violence or know someone who's been affected.
The trial for alleged serial rapist Richard Mantha heard from the final two women the Crown alleges were victimized by the 61-year-old who faces 20 charges, including sexual assault with a weapon, kidnapping and administering noxious substances.
Both women are extremely vulnerable; struggling with drug addiction, homelessness and poverty.
A publication ban protects their identities. CBC News will call them Sam and Anna.
The toll it took on both women to show up at court to testify was obvious.
'I didn't get to say yes or no'
On Friday, Sam sobbed as she made her way to the stand.
But she appeared to get stronger throughout the day.
Sam told Justice Judith Shriar she met Mantha, a man she knew as "Poncho," in Forest Lawn when he picked her up in a truck.
"He just said he would help me out, give me some dope," she told prosecutor Dominique Mathurin.
Mantha took her to his RV that was parked inside a Quonset hut on a rented property east of the city.
Sam said Mantha washed her and then began having sex with her.
"I was under the impression that he was just going to help me, I didn't think I had to do anything sexually," she said.
"I didn't get to choose that … I didn't get to say yes or no, it was happening."
'I didn't want it'
Sam said she tried to close her legs but "he just pulled me closer to him, he's a little more aggressive."
"I guess he liked the fact that I didn't want it and he was able to take it from me."
Sam said Mantha didn't speak to her "at all."
She said she was too afraid to say anything to Mantha.
"I didn't want to say the wrong thing and be another statistic ... like dead."
One day earlier, a 24-year-old Anna was called to the witness stand.
Anna takes the stand
Speaking barely above a whisper, Anna kept looking over at Mantha in the prisoner's box. Then, she shut down, unable to answer questions.
Court took a break.
"The goal here is not to make things worse for her," said Justice Shriar.
After a lengthy adjournment, Anna returned. Clerks had added a screen blocking Anna's view of Mantha.
She spoke in short sentences, often offering one or two word responses.
Photos shown to Anna
Prosecutor Dominique Mathurin showed Anna photos that she identified as herself.
They were screen grabs of a sex video found on one of Mantha's electronic devices.
Anna said she was "100 per cent" sure it was her face and tattoo in the image but she said, "these pictures, I don't remember them."
Then Mathurin asked Anna if she and Mantha had sex. Anna said they had.
"Did you want to?" asked the prosecutor.
Anna answered, "No."
'You've been very brave'
When defence lawyer Justin Dean cross-examined Anna, she confirmed she uses fentanyl every few hours and had done so before she testified.
Anna started crying.
"You've been very brave," said Shriar. "Do you need a rest?"
Anna declined. "I'm tired. I want to finish this so I can go home."
Dean continued, suggesting Anna had sex in Mantha's RV in exchange for drugs or money.
"Would you agree with that?" he asked.
She whispered, "Yes."
"Did you consent to have sex with Mr. Mantha?" asked Dean.
Again she whispered, "Yes."
The trial is expected to last one more week.