Mars Rape Trial

(Bentonville, Arkansas) A year ago, a 42-year-old HIV-positive woman, Donna Sue Mars (aka Donna Sue Turner), was charged with rape and with exposing another person to HIV for engaging in oral sex with a 13-year-old boy.

This week, the trial of Donna Sue Mars, now 43, got underway before an 11-man, one-woman jury in Benton County Circuit Court, Judge David Clinger presiding. In the first two days of testimony, the jurors got a glimpse of the mentality of Mars.

"How can you rape the willing?" was Donna Sue Mars' first question after learning she was being arrested in December 2005, accused of performing oral sex on a 13-year-old boy.

When an officer explained state law gives special protection to those younger than age 14, Mars said, "Sometimes, when you get drunk, you forget the age, right?"

Her statements were recorded on tape the night of her arrest. The boy and his mother also testified, leaving the impression that the episode with Mars made the boy frightful and traumatized.

If convicted, Mars could be sentenced to life in prison. More later.