Asylum Seeker Accused of 'Pack of Lies' in Brighton Beach Rape Trial
An asylum seeker who claimed he filmed an alleged rape on Brighton beach to prevent the attack has been accused of telling a "pack of lies" in court. Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, gave evidence over three days at Hove Crown Court regarding his involvement in the incident that occurred in the early hours of October 4 last year.
Alleged 'Cynical, Predatory and Callous' Attack
Al-Danasurt, an Egyptian national, is jointly charged with co-defendants Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, also Egyptian, and Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, an Iranian national. Prosecutors allege the trio targeted a woman in what they describe as a "cynical, predatory and callous" assault on the beach of the East Sussex city.
Alshafe and Ahmadi face accusations of repeatedly raping the woman, while Al-Danasurt is charged with filming the incident. During cross-examination, he denied allegations of spitting on the victim, calling her insulting names, and laughing or encouraging his co-defendants.
Defendant's Claim: Filming to Stop the Attack
Al-Danasurt told jurors he captured three videos during the alleged attack in an attempt to get Alshafe and Ahmadi to stop and to "defend himself" by documenting what happened. He stated that before filming, he tried to "grab them away" but received no response.
However, prosecutor Hanna Llewellyn-Waters KC challenged his account, questioning his tone in the videos and asking what he was doing in the three and a half minutes before recording began. She suggested Al-Danasurt was telling a "pack of lies" to protect himself, accusing him of putting on "a performance with a string of lies to hide your true involvement."
Al-Danasurt firmly denied these allegations, responding, "What I said is totally the truth, I'm not lying, I'm telling the truth. If I wanted to lie, I would have said I didn't go to Brighton from the beginning."
Contradictory Evidence and Post-Incident Behavior
The court heard that while filming, Al-Danasurt said "God will expose you" to the two men, which he described as "powerful" words. Ms Llewellyn-Waters noted that an interpreter suggested the phrase could be used dismissively, and she asked if he found the situation entertaining, which he denied.
Further accusations emerged from Ahmadi's police statement, claiming Al-Danasurt slapped the complainant and spat in her mouth after the incident. Al-Danasurt refuted this, stating, "No, that has never happened. He said that before because I gave the video to the police and once he knew I gave the video to the police, of course, he will accuse me and he will say everything against me."
Jurors were presented with evidence of Al-Danasurt's actions after the alleged attack, including buying juice and croissants for his co-defendants and attending a barbecue with them approximately twelve hours later. He claimed the barbecue was their idea and that he did not refuse, despite alleging Ahmadi had threatened him that evening. A Snapchat video showing Al-Danasurt in filtered sunglasses at the barbecue was displayed in court.
Background of Defendants and Charges
At the time of the alleged offences, all three defendants knew each other and were residents at the Cisswood House Hotel in Lower Beeding, near Horsham, West Sussex. This hotel is Home Office-approved accommodation for asylum seekers.
Ahmadi, from Crewe in Cheshire, and Alshafe, from Lower Beeding, have each denied two counts of raping the woman. Al-Danasurt, also of Lower Beeding, is jointly charged on all four rape counts as a secondary party for "encouraging the rape by his actions at the scene, including filming it," and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
He additionally denies a fifth count of "sharing intimate films" without the complainant's consent, related to allegations he sent recordings of the alleged rapes to Ahmadi's phone via Snapchat shortly after the incident.
Co-Defendant's Testimony and Trial Continuation
On Tuesday, Alshafe began giving his evidence, claiming the complainant approached him and Ahmadi, asked how they were, and then kissed and touched them both. When asked if she appeared drunk, Alshafe said no, interpreting her actions as indicating she wanted to have sex. He added, "That is everything that came to my mind because of that and she also said something like 'come to sex'."
The trial continues as the court examines the conflicting accounts and evidence in this high-profile case.
