NSW; Boy accused of murder tells jury of rape

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-1999
NSW; Boy accused of murder tells jury of rape

A jury in Sydney has been told a 15-year-old boy deliberately cut and burnt himself as
punishment for not escaping from a rapist whom he later killed.

Giving evidence in the New South Wales Supreme Court, the teenager said he felt ashamed and
despised himself for not escaping after BARRY WALTER COULTER made sexual advances before raping
him in April 1996.

The youth said during 1997, he cut himself with a razor blade and burned himself on the
oven hotplate as a punishment because he had not run when he had the chance.

Under cross-examination, he's admitted luring Mr COULTER out at night to kill him. He said
he felt no remorse and his actions were necessary.

The youth, now 17, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr COULTER, who was shot five times
on November 1, 1997, in the Mudgee area of central NSW.

His barrister, GREGORY SCRAGG has told the jury psychiatric evidence will establish the boy
suffers from an abnormality of the mind which impairs his responsibility for the shooting.

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KEYWORD: YOUTH (SYDNEY)

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