Victim of gruesome Pine Hills attack testifies against accused rapist – WFTV

Channel 9 does not name the victim or identify himself.

The victim’s testimony lasted almost two hours and she described in detail how she was attacked but managed to escape.

The victim said she was thinking about her then two-year-old son as she fought for survival.

Read: Victim of gruesome Pine Hills attack to testify against accused rapist

She told jurors that she had traveled out of the country to testify against Whitehead.

She said she left Florida shortly after the attack with her now four-year-old son.

On the witness stand, the victim focused on Whitehead and told the jury that he was the man who tried to kill her.

According to the victim’s statement, on December 10, 2022, Bruce Whitehead offered her more than $800 to paint her.

Instead, the victim said Whitehead kidnapped, sexually abused and mutilated her.

She told the jury that she feared for her life the entire time. The brutal attack ended when Whitehead tried to stab her three times but the blade jammed.

Read: Man in court for brutal rape and attack on Orange County woman

“At that point I thought, okay, he’s not going to let me go. He’s trying to kill me. He’s going to kill me right now. So I grabbed his hand,” the victim said.

She then described fighting off Whitehead by kicking, screaming and punching him before managing to escape and run to a nearby neighbor’s house.

Prosecutors asked the victim what was going through her mind when Whitehead tried to stab her.

“I had to get back to my son. No matter what has already happened. No matter what happens, I have to get out of here. I can’t die tonight,” the victim said.

Read: Registered sex offender accused of raping and attempting to kill Orange County woman appears in court

Neither did the defense ask the victim any questions, nor did Whitehead’s attorney call any other witnesses to the stand.

During a break, however, Whitehead told the judge that he wanted to apologize to the victim.

Whitehead appeared emotional as he told the judge he was “mentally disturbed.”

He then told the judge he needed a moment to collect himself before saying, “I know this isn’t about me right now, I realize that, but I have feelings too.”

The jury will return Wednesday morning to hear closing arguments and then begin deliberations.

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