Actress Zara Phythian (37) must have felt like she made it when she landed a role in Marvel’s “Doctor Strange”. However, her achievements meant nothing when she and her husband were charged for grooming and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl for three years.
Zara’s choices back then have led to justice today. She was recently sentenced to eight years in jail. Her husband, Victor Marke (59), whom she married in 2015, was sentenced to fourteen. Victor notably had additional charges from sexually abusing another, a 15-year-old girl.
The duo had supposedly met via martial arts when Victor had been Zara’s instructor. They had already been in a relationship when the abuse started in 2005. The prosecutor claimed that the girl, aged 13 then, had been forced into numerous “threesomes” with both Victor and Zara.
Victor refuted the charge, stating that sexual activity had only happened on one occasion. Additionally, he alleged that Zara had not been involved in the abuse. Zara too denied having any kind of sexual activity with the victim.
However, the judge ruled them guilty. Zara and Victor were both charged for 14 counts of sexual activity with the then-13-year-old. Victor carried an additional 4 counts from indecently assaulting another child in 2002 and 2003.
Both Zara and Victor were sentenced to jail yesterday (16th May). Eight years for Zara and fourteen for Victor. Additionally, according to BBC News, the judge said that Victor had been the “driving force behind the abuse”. He also stated to Zara, “I am in no doubt that your deviance was shaped by the influence (Victor) had upon you from that early age.”
Both victims, now adults still carry the scars from the abuse. The then-15-year-old shared that Victor’s actions had “nearly broke (her) mum“. The other told the couple, “You robbed me of my innocence, corrupted me… leaving me unable to create good and balanced relationships.”
According to the former-13-year-old, she had initially admired Zara. However, she had not expected to be taken advantage of after getting to know the actress. She also alleged that Victor had claimed no one would believe her if she made the matter public.
Our hearts go out to the two women who have suffered under the couple. We hope this sentencing will allow them to heal from the hurt which was done to them.
Sources: BBC News (1)(2), China Press, The Indian Express
