The Zara Phythian actress, who appeared in the film ‘Doctor Strange with Benedict Cumberbatch, was sentenced on Monday to eight years in prison for sexually abusing a minor with her husband Victor Marke, a specialist in martial arts. The latter has received a higher sentence of 14 years because he has been found guilty of abusing another 15-year-old girl.
Judge Mark Watson has ruled that Marke was the “motive force” behind the horrific crimes they committed together and that Zara acted largely because of “the influence he had on her from an early age”. The couple met when he became the interpreter’s instructor before she began a successful career as a stunt double in the movies.
Both have been found guilty of 14 counts of sexual activity and, in Marke’s case, four more of indecent assault. Victor Marke broke down in tears as he arrived at Nottingham High Court to hear her sentence.
In addition to the same 14 counts, Marke, 59, was convicted of four additional counts of indecent assault on another woman between 2002 and 2003, when he was 15 years old.
The couple met when he was her martial arts instructor, and she had a successful career in martial arts, as a stuntwoman, and as an actress.
Both took the process on bail, but after being found guilty, they will be in custody. They still do not know his sentence, which the judge announced will arrive on the 16t
The victim, whose identity has been kept secret throughout the trial, testified to explain that she regularly stayed at the couple’s house, and assured that the actress gave her rum and asked her if she wanted to play “challenges”. before forcing her to have sex with her husband. The abuse continued until she was 18 and included Marke asking her to record him while she “reenacted pornographic scenes” with Zara.
Marke admitted at Nottingham Crown Court to having had sexual activity with one of the girls but claimed that she was 18 at the time.
In addition to having worked on ” Doctor Strange “, Phythian has also participated as an actress in productions such as The Dark Kingdom, Street Blood, Transit 17 or Tribal Get Out Alive. Her filmography as an action specialist includes productions such as Macbeth, Morgan or Curfew.
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