Two women who were forced to have sex to lift supposed black magic curses have broken down while telling a judge of the ensuing consequences on their lives.
One woman said she and her family were physically and emotionally scarred, while the second said the offenders had "chipped away at my soul and broken me down".
The women were reading their victim impact statements today in the NSW District Court in Sydney at the sentencing hearing for Tony Golossian, Arthur Psichogios and his wife Frances Psichogios.
Before the sentencing hearing began, just outside the court room, two of Golossian's sons were arrested, as was his wife. No details were immediately available.
Last December, a jury found Golossian, 63, guilty of 24 charges, most of which were for having sexual intercourse without consent. His friend Arthur Psichogios, 40, was found guilty of 14 similar charges.
His 38-year-old wife was found guilty of seven charges, including administering an intoxicating substance with intent to enable sexual assault. The jury heard evidence that the two men used demonic voices, black magic curses, and forced sex during "prayer sessions."
The women had firmly believed black magic curses were placed on them and their families, involving cancer, reproductive problems and horrific fatal accidents. Both were convinced that to rid themselves of the curses they had to take part in prayer sessions, in which they were blindfolded and sex was forced on them.
The jury was told the devoted fiance of one of the victims broke up with her, while the other woman's husband left while she was pregnant after he was sent compromising pictures of his wife.
She cried as she told the judge her now ex-husband had not had the courage to stand by her when she told him about what had been happening and consequently her young daughter did not know her father. The sentencing hearing is continuing before Judge Penelope Hock.
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