Two terrified sex workers thought they were going to die when they heard they were being driven to a cemetery after providing services in central Christchurch.
The incident began about 3. One of the men was Edwards who negotiated a price with one of the women for her to provide sexual services. Edwards then negotiated for further services, which were provided in the back of the car. Edwards sat in the front passenger seat, and indicated they should drive past the Manchester St corner. The woman told him she did not have his money. He then asked the second woman, who said she did not have it either.
The first woman became hysterical and was crying, and asked where they were being taken to. Both victims were terrified and thought they were going to die or be seriously assaulted, the Crown prosecutor said. They parked near Willow St, across the Avon River from the cemetery, where Edwards said he was going to search the women.
Both were crying and saying they did not take the money. He then rubbed his hands over both women's bodies. The men then left in the car, leaving the two women shocked on the roadside. As they walked back to a car they had parked in Manchester St, the women called police and Edwards was spoken to six weeks later.
He denied the offending. The judge asked for a pre-sentence report that will consider his suitability for home or community detention, but warned that was no an indication of the likely sentence. The referral is required by legislation even though policer indicated the two women did not wish to meet Edwards. Sex workers feared for their lives before Christchurch man assaulted them.
