Nikita Hand who accused Irish Mixed Martial Artist Conor McGregor and another man of rape has been weaving a “web of lies” hears the court.
Conor McGregor’s accuser Nikita Hand is seeking civil damages against him for an alleged sexual assault that took place at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin, Ireland in 2018. Ms Hand alleges that Conor McGregor pinned her to the bed and raped her.
Co-defendant James Lawrence is said to have been present at the time the alleged assault took place. Conor McGregor’s lawyers told the court they believe Ms Hand is attempting to extort him due to his affluence.
The court heard that Ms Hand told her ex-partner “he [McGregor] told me he’d kill me” if she told him who had committed the rape. Despite telling her partner she was raped and choked three times, she would not name Mr McGregor as the culprit.
On the fourth day of the trial, Ms Hand was cross-examined by Mr McGregor’s defence barrister Remy Farrell SC.
Remy Farrell SC’s Cross-Examination
Mr Farrell asked Ms Hand:
“You told your former partner that ‘he told me he’d kill me’. That was a reference to McGregor, wasn’t it?”
To which Ms Hand agreed. Mr Farrell told the court Ms Hand never mentioned Mr McGregor’s death threats in any police interviews. Ms Hand claims she could not remember.
Mr Farrell continued questioning Ms Hand, asking why she lied to her ex-partner about being with a friend in a taxi leaving the Beacon Hotel after the alleged assault. Ms Hand admitted to the lie, stating that she was alone and lied to her then-partner to reassure him she was okay.
Remy Farrell SC stated the lie was “part of a web of lies you [Nikita Hand] were weaving. Adding:
“You were telling lies to your ex-partner and he was catching you out on some.”
Ms Hand said she was “raped and battered a few hours before” so her mind wasn’t “perfect” when she lied. She told the court:
“I was raped and battered a few hours before that, so my mind wasn’t perfect at the time. I didn’t care about anything at the time. All I cared about was my body and how hurt I was. I didn’t care about anyone else.”
McGregor’s Co-defendant James Lawrence’s Account
The man accused of being an accomplice to Mr McGregor in the sexual assault is James Lawrence. Afterwards James Lawrence’s defence attorney John Fitzgerald SC, presented evidence to the court.
Following this Mr Fitzgerald told the court the “strange feature” of the case was how Mr Lawrence, “brought himself into the case”. Mr Fitzgerald mentioned how in January 2019 Mr Lawrence went to the police to tell them he had consensual sex with Ms Hand.
John Fitzgerald SC presented Ms Hand and Mr McGregor could “clearly be heard having sex” through the open bedroom door.
Adding:
“They were moaning noises and noises that indicated you were having a good time and not a bad time”. Additionally, Mr Fitzgerald alleged Ms Hand and Mr McGregor were having “pleasurable sex” whilst her friend and Mr Lawrence were having sex in the room across. Mr Fitzgerald SC claimed Ms Hand knew Mr Lawrence and her friend were having sex because she saw it take place.
Contrarily Ms Hand remarked, “I think this is another made-up story”. Furthermore, when Mr Fitzgerald claimed Mr Lawrence saw Ms Hand on top of Mr McGregor.
Consequently, Ms Hand responded:
“Lies”.
Thereafter Ms Hand accused Mr Lawrence of lying about having sex with her when returning to the hotel room. Mr Fitzgerald asked, “You think he’s lying about having sex with you?”
Ms Hand said: “Absolutely”.
Ms Hand’s defence attorney John Gordon SC says his client is being called a “gold digger and a fraud”. Mr Gordon stated that his client has shown bravery in seeking “vindication and compensation”.
Altogether the court proceedings are expected to take two weeks.
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