The Zara Phythian actress, who starred in the film Doctor Strange with Benedict Cumberbatch, was sentenced to eight years in prison on Monday for sexually abusing a minor with her martial arts specialist husband Victor Marke. The latter has received an increased sentence of 14 years after being found guilty of molesting another 15-year-old girl.
Zara Phythian. (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)
Judge Mark Watson has ruled that Marke was the “driving force” behind the horrific crimes they committed together and that Zara acted primarily because of “the influence he had over her from an early age”. The pair met when he became an interpreter teacher before she began a successful career as a stunt double in films.
Both were found guilty of 14 counts of sexual activity and four more of indecent assault in Marke’s case. Victor Marke broke down in tears as he arrived at Nottingham High Court to hear his verdict.
The victim, whose identity was kept secret throughout the trial, testified to explain that she was a regular visitor to the couple’s home, assuring 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 lasted until she was 18 and included Marke asking her to tape him “acting out pornographic scenes” with Zara.
Zara has denied all of these allegations from day one and this Monday protested her innocence after hearing the judge’s decision, even encouraging herself to greet those present in the gallery while she was taken to jail.