MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A former Memphis Police Officer was in court on Tuesday. He’s on trial for allegedly raping a woman back in 2009.
“He said ‘you’re either going to suck **** and let me **** or you’re going to jail,'” the alleged victim testified in court.
She said former MPD officer John Smith sexually assaulted her in 2009.
The victim told the courtroom she was walking to a store at the corner of South Third and Belle Haven when three police cars passed her.
She said one turned on his lights, turned around and stopped her.
“He was like, ‘step up here’. So, I stepped up there, because I’m not going to say no. It’s a police officer.”
On the stand, the victim told jurors Smith forced her behind the building.
She said he forced oral sex on her and tried to rape her, but she was able to run away.
Afterwards, the victim used a fake name when calling 911.
She said she was trying to dodge police because of her criminal history.
The defense claimed Smith was just trying to get the victim to stop working as a prostitute.
They went on to say that the victim and her pimp only called 911 after their encounter to set Smith up and get him off their backs.
“Johnathan Turner was coaching you during that call right? He told you to make that call didn’t he?” the defense asked.
“No, I made the call on my own,” she replied.
Due to her work as a prostitute and inconsistent statements she made about the extent of the attack, the defense told jurors she’s untrustworthy.
“She gave a fake name when she called 911!”
