Model’s rape claim false, German court told

BERLIN: A former candidate on Germany’s Next Top Model accused of making false claims of rape broke down in tears in a Berlin court yesterday when a judge ruled a sex tape was permissible as evidence in the case.

The 29-year Gina-Lisa Lohfink has been accused by two men – an unnamed footballer and former party promoter Sebastian Pinto – of inventing false rape allegations against them after they had had a threesome.

“It was from the outset about having fun,” Pinto, 33, told the court, denying the rape claim.

“We had fun as a threesome,” he said, and also denied Lohfink’s allegation that she had been given a knockout drug.

The men filmed the session and posted it online.

Lohfink is appearing before court for refusing to pay a €24 000 (R365 000) fine after the public prosecutor in Berlin ruled that her rape claim, which dates back to June 2012, was false.

Judge Antje Ebner looked at parts of the sex video out of sight of those in the courtroom.

Lohfink wiped the corner of her eye as it was played. At one point, she cried out: “What we are talking about here is bad. Do you think I enjoyed it?”

Both men, who face charges for distributing the video in a separate case, have also launched actions against Lohfink claiming defamation and insult.

The Lohfink case comes against the backdrop of the German parliament’s move last month to strengthen the law so that ignoring verbal resistance can be considered to constitute rape. – DPA