Jonathan Koppenhaver, aka the cage fighter War Machine, is facing a laundry list of various types of assault and attempted murder charges stemming from allegations made by his former girlfriend and porn star Christy Mack. According to War Machine and his lawyer, however, adult film actresses are unable to be raped, which only adds another stomach-churning dimension to what is already a horrifying case.
In court Monday, War Machine’s defense attorney, Brandon Sua, said Mack’s “work in pornography pointed to consent and that Koppenhaver and Mackinday often engaged in rough sex.” Additionally, Sua said Mack, whose real name is Christine Mackinday, had a career that led to her “desire, the preference, the acceptability towards a particular form of sex activities that were outside of the norm,” according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
This, of course, is absurd, and is nothing short of victim blaming, as Chief Deputy District Attorney Jacqueline Bluth pointed out. Mack’s professional work, even if in the adult industry, does not directly translate into her personal life.
Prosecutors argued that rape shield laws, which limit the ability of defendants to introduce evidence of victims’ sexual history, should prohibit defense lawyers from revealing the details of Mackinday’s movies to a jury.
“Because she consented to those acts through her course of employment does not mean the defendant is then entitled to think he can do that to her,” Bluth said. “You can’t make that leap.”
The judge questioned whether pornography established consent but asked Sua for a written motion explaining the history of the sexual relationship between Mackinday and Koppenhaver.
“I don’t see how any of those activities that she did in adult movies would ever show her consent to the acts with the defendant that he’s charged with,” [District Judge Elissa] Cadish said. “I’m not seeing that connection.”
As if the situation couldn’t have been worse, Koppenhaver apparently blew a kiss to the DA. It wouldn’t be the first time War Machine has made light of things. Last year during a preliminary hearing, Koppenhaver was seen laughing at Mack’s testimony.
In July, Mack spoke to HBO’s Real Sports about the reported incident, which resulted in numerous life-threatening injuries. Among the injuries Mack sustained included broken bones in her face and ribs, a ruptured liver, missing teeth and severe bruising. Earlier that spring, Mack was the subject of an ESPN piece chronicling her violent relationship with Koppenhaver.
The pictures of Mack’s injuries were posted by her on social media. They’re difficult, if not impossible, to un-see, but they serve as a sobering reminder of how deadly domestic violence can be.
(Via Las Vegas Review-Journal)
