CROWN POINT | A Gary woman told police she regained consciousness in late 2006 to extreme pain as her boyfriend brutally raped her. That same man had choked her first until she blacked out, Lake Criminal Court records state.
Walter Liddell, 31, is scheduled to stand trial today in Lake Criminal Court on charges relating to the woman's rape.
The Gary man faces seven felony charges -- two counts of rape and one count each of criminal confinement, battery, attempted aggravated battery, criminal deviate conduct and possession of cocaine -- in the November 2006 crimes, court records show.
Liddell initially was charged with felony strangulation and two more counts of criminal confinement, but Deputy Prosecutor John Burke filed a motion Friday to dismiss those. The actions alleged in those charges already were included within some of the other felonies, he said.
The Gary woman told police Liddell, with whom she lived for several weeks, argued frequently and "got physical" with her, records allege.
Liddell raped the woman two times, and both times she begged him to stop, court records show.
The first time, Liddell allegedly choked her until she passed out then raped her. The second time, she woke up to him raping her, records said.
She said Liddell asked her if she was "ready to die" and threatened to hurt her family if she tried to run.
Liddell also faces criminal charges in a separate rape case, court records show.
In that case, Liddell has been charged with 12 felonies -- rape, battery and two counts each of sexual battery, criminal deviate conduct, theft, intimidation and confinement -- for allegedly forcing two Hobart teens to perform sexual acts with him the night of Aug. 17, 2005.
That case has already been tried twice in Lake Criminal Court. Both times, the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict and a mistrial was declared.
In the first trial, 10 jurors thought Liddell was guilty and one maintained a not guilty verdict was justified, officials said. Nine jurors found Liddell not guilty and three found him guilty in the second trial.
He heads to trial again in September in that case.
Liddell is being held without bail in Lake County Jail.
