PANAMA CITY — The trial of a Cincinnati man accused of trapping a woman in his car before beating and raping her continues Wednesday after a judge rejected an attorney’s request for an acquittal Tuesday.
Jurors heard testimony in the state’s case against Corderro Ryan Britten, 27, who was arrested in October on suspicion of holding the woman against her will, beating and raping her, and then threatening to kill her and her children. The attack allegedly occurred after a party in Panama City Beach when Britten offered to give the woman a ride to her Lynn Haven home, but he instead continued to a secluded location.
The state rested its case at the end of the day, but Britten could testify on his own behalf today when the trial resumes.
The News Herald does not identify rape victims; but in a written statement, the victim told law enforcement she suffered a dislocated jaw, busted lips and numerous bruises on her body at Britten’s hand. Britten allegedly punched her several times before she tried to jump from his moving Volkswagen hatchback.
“I tried to escape and took my seatbelt off and it beeped,” the victim wrote. “I opened the door and started yelling, ‘help me, help me,’ but no one heard me.”
She told police Britten then put on a condom and raped her before telling the woman he would kill her and her children if she reported him, she said. Britten then allegedly made her wipe her face with a red and grey hooded sweatshirt in the car before dropping her near U.S. 231 and Transmitter Road.
When Lynn Haven police caught up with Britten about 12 hours later in the restroom at Burger King on Front Beach Road, they found the sweatshirt in his car, stained with blood, along with an empty condom wrapper. DNA analysts with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement took samples from the sweater that matched the victim. However, tests for bodily fluids on the victim’s person belonging to Britten came back negative.
Defense attorney Russell Wilson conceded to the charge of battery and asked Judge Michael Overstreet to acquit Britten on the charges of sexual battery.
“The state has failed to provide evidence there was ever penetration,” Wilson said. “Not to mention, there was no evidence he ever tried to confront her, force her or threaten her family.”
Overstreet denied the request, but as the trial commences Wednesday, jurors could hear Britten’s account of the incident.