Youth says he faked role in gang rape

Published: Sept. 16, 2009 at 1:13 PM

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 16 (UPI) -- A teen charged in the 2007 gang rape of a West Palm Beach, Fla., woman was not a willing participant and faked his role in it, his lawyer says.

Attorney Chris Haddad told jurors on the first day of testimony at the trial of Jakaris Taylor that his client went to the victim's apartment hoping to persuade his friends to leave, The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post reported Wednesday.

Instead, Haddad said, Taylor "simulated a sex act" hoping it would show Tommy Poindexter and the other boys that he was on their team.

Haddad said Poindexter, known as "Crazy Tommy" had two guns and Taylor was afraid he would turn one of them on him.

Taylor is the last of four young men charged to go on trial for raping the 35-year-old Dunbar Village woman and forcing her to perform oral sex on her 12-year-old son.

The other three, Poindexter, Avion Lawson and Nathan Walker, will be sentenced next month.

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Youth says he faked role in gang rape