'Savage sexual attack': Parkade rape trial jury hears DNA evidence

DNA from the man accused of raping a woman in a downtown Calgaryparkadewas found inside the victim, jurors heard as AndyNtunaguza'ssexual assault trial got underway on Tuesday.

ProsecutorDevenSinghaltold the jury made up of10 men and two women that the victim, a woman in her 40s, has been homeless for much ofher life and suffers from lupus.

When security guards and police found her in the fifth floorstairwell in December 2015, both her eyes were swollen shut and she had cuts and scrapes covering her body. The woman whose identity is protected by a publication banwas naked from waist down and bleeding from her face.

The badly beaten woman was taken to hospital suffering serious injuries after what Singhalcalled a "savage sexual attack."

• Parkade sexual assault suspect arrested in downtown Calgary

Ntunaguza is charged withaggravated sexual assault, forcible confinement, and overcome resistance by choking.

"When she called for help, when she cried, she was constrained, choked, held by the neck," saidSinghal.

The attack happened around 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2015.

Around the same timesecurity guards found the victim, video from theparkadeshows a man the Crown says isNtunaguzaleaving the building.

When police responded to the scene, the woman told them she had been dragged into the stairwell by her hair and raped.

When asked about the victim's demeanour, one of the first officers on scene said shewas "very shaken up."

"Her hands were covering her face as if to protect herself from somebody else harming her," said Const. Maja Vadak.

Ntunaguza'slawyer, Dale Fedorchuk, has not yet indicated what his defence will be.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Adam Germain is presiding over the two-week trial.