A cyclist who claims they witnessed ‘a man violently overpowering a woman’ in an East London alleyway told jurors it looked like ‘attempted rape’ as they shared ‘regret’ at not calling 999. Hossein Mohmoudi, 34, is on trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court accused of the rape and attempted rape of woman in Stratford in December 2024 as she returned home from a Christmas party.
This week Mr Mohmoudi’s barrister has told jurors it would have been impossible for him to rape the woman, because he has a three-inch penis and he cannot ‘get it up’. Mr Mohmoudi has claimed he thought he recognised the woman so approached her to help, but ran off when she ‘became hysterical’ and started shouting at him.
On Wednesday (August 20) jurors watched Bethany Martin tell police how they were cycling down Stratford Broadway in the early hours of December 6 when they heard ‘screams’ in a ‘low voice’ and noticed two people ‘grappling’ in the dark. The male figure appeared to be trying to take control, while another figure, who they later learned was a woman, was trying to get free, they said.
“He was definitely on top of her. He had his body on her body, I’m not sure exactly where,” Mx Martin said in a video recorded police interview, adding: “His legs were around her hips and legs.” Mx Martin, 32, was initially stayed back because they were unsure if two men were fighting, but ‘assumed this is probably someone being sexually assaulted right now’ after noticing the woman’s long hair.
Describing how the alleged attacker reacted when they saw him, Mx Martin said: “He looked at me. I guess there was a lot of ‘I have just been caught’ on his face. There was a bit of surprise at this situation. He was not smiling. He looked intent on getting what he wanted.”
After moving out of the dark alleyway into the glare of a streetlight, both the man and the woman got up and ran off in separate directions. Mx Martin then cared for the woman for around 30 minutes; discussing her cat, retrieving her shoes and make-up from the alleyway, and ordering her a cab home.
Describing what they saw, Mx Martin said: “I did not ask her how far he got or on whether it looked like he was intending on doing. He was around her legs and waist. He was still trying to control her.
“I don’t actually know what he was trying to do to her. I could see he was trying to get more control over her. He was probably only there for some seconds until he looked up and realised he was being watched, then he froze and got up and legged it.”
Explaining why they did not ask for more detail, Mx Martin said: “I did not ask her what happened when they were there. I did not want to bring her mind to that.”
‘I’m feeling quite angry’
After jurors watched her police interview, Mx Martin gave live evidence, telling prosecutor Christian Moll: “I could see he was attacking her.”
Then defence counsel David Harounoff took his turn, asking Mx Martin whether they saw the man ‘dragging’ the woman, or if he was naked from the waist down. Mx Martin said ‘No’ to both questions.
As Mr Harounoff continued probing, Mx Martin paused for a while, then said: “I’m sorry, I’m feeling quite angry.”
After taking a moment, they said: “I saw him violently overpowering her. I saw intent to rape. I can only tell you what I saw, a man violently overpowering a woman in a dark area.”
“You said someone attempting to rape,” said Mr Harounoff, “Did you see that anywhere in the video?”
“I saw a man attacking a woman,” responded Mx Martin.
“Do you retract ‘attempting to rape’?” asked Mr Harounoff.
“I can only tell you what I saw,” said Mx Martin.
“Do you accept in the course of the video at no stage do you mention an intent to rape?” asked Mr Harounoff.
“I don’t remember,” said Mx Martin.
After taking a break, Mr Harounoff continued questioning Mx Martin, asking them if they had seen the man’s naked body or penis.
“I do not know what their genitals were doing,” said Mx Martin, adding: “I saw overpowering. If I had not been there, I do not know what would have happened.”
Mr Harounoff also grilled Mx Martin on her decision not to call the police, telling her: “If you had the slightest concern someone had been raped you would not have put her in a taxi.”
“That is a regret of mine. Part of my reason is the violence I have experienced from the police and my own reaction,” said Mx Martin.
On their conversation with the woman after the reported rape, Mx Martin explained they did not ask for details because they could see the woman was in shock.
“I was focused on calming her. I was focused on getting her home,” they added.
Mr Harounoff then circled back on his previous topics, challenging Mx Martin’s assertion she had witnessed an ‘attempted rape’.
“Is that something you have read in the papers?” he asked.
With anger rising in their voice, Mx Martin said: “No… I have also seen CCTV of him undoing his belt buckle. I also live in a world where men rape women all the time.”
Mr Mahmoudi, of Booth House on Whitechapel Road, denies rape and attempted rape. He claims his three-inch penis and erectile dysfunction make it impossible for him to have raped the woman. The trial under Judge Timothy Green continues.
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