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  Hornbuckle's Attorneys Attack Credibility of Alleged Sexual Assault

By Melody McDonald
Star-Telegram
August 3, 2006

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/15190340.htm

Fort Worth — The 23-year-old woman who accused the Rev. Terry Hornbuckle of drugging and raping her in a Euless apartment two years ago returned to the witness stand Thursday morning, where she is undergoing exhaustive cross-examination by Hornbuckle's attorney.

Mike Heiskell, who is defending Hornbuckle with Leon Haley, is attempting to attack Krystal Buchanan's credibility and is questioning her motivation – pointing to a civil suit she filed against Hornbuckle and his multi-million dollar megachurch after the alleged sexual assault.

Buchanan, a former member of Agape Christian Fellowship, testified Wednesday that she met Hornbuckle at a Wendy's restaurant July 31, 2004, on the pretext of receiving money for her 21st Birthday and a motivational tape or CD. She told jurors that Hornbuckle claimed he had left his checkbook at his "homeboy's" apartment and asked her to go with him to get it.

Buchanan said Hornbuckle drove her to an apartment, where he gave her some punch that made her pass out. When she awoke, she was naked and Hornbuckle was getting off of her.

Buchanan told jurors she was a virgin and a lesbian and did not want to have sexual relations with Hornbuckle, who was her longtime bishop and the man who baptized her.

Heiskell, however, has told the jury that Buchanan and Hornbuckle were actually on a date that night and had consensual sex. He claimed Buchanan knew about Hornbuckle's history – specifically that he had had sex with numerous women in the congregation – before she agreed to meet him that night.

Heiskell questioned Buchanan about why, if she was raped, she didn't call anyone on her cellphone, or get up and walk out of the apartment.

"You were enjoying that time with Terry, isn't that true?" Heiskell asked.

"I wasn't enjoying anything," Buchanan replied.

Heiskell also asked Buchanan why she hadn't told anyone she was a lesbian until Wednesday, when she was on the witness stand.

"Isn't it true that you are just saying that because you want this jury to believe you don't want anything to do with a man?" Heiskell asked.

"No, that is not true," Buchanan replied. "...my preference is my preference."

Hornbuckle is on trial in state district Judge Scott Wisch's court, accused of sexually assaulting Buchanan and two other women, including another former member of Agape. Prosecutor Betty Arvin, who, along with with Sean Colston, is trying Hornbuckle, told jurors Wednesday that they will hear from the other women in the upcoming days.

If convicted, Hornbuckle faces anywhere from probation to 20 years in prison on each charge.

Melody McDonald, (817) 390-7386 mjmcdonald@star-telegram.com

 
 

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