'Abused' Girlfriend Defends Bondage Lifestyle, Says Trial Unfounded

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The girlfriend of a man charged with kidnapping and abusing her defends their bondage, dominant submissive relationship and says their lifestyle has been misconstrued in court.

Prosecutors said 43-year-old Richard Wise handcuffed, choked and beat Nanette Larsen, a married mother of three from Utah. If convicted, Wise could spend up to 31 years in prison.

Back in February, the two allegedly got into a fight over an incident that happened at an Oklahoma City nightclub.

Jurors were shown a picture of Larsen with a black eye that was taken while she was at the hospital.

Wise said back in March that he had a sexual contract with Larsen and the charges against him were unfounded. The trial has shed light on the secret world of one alternative sexual lifestyle known as BDSM play. BDSM stands for bondage, discipline, dominance submission and sadomasochism.

Larsen testified in court Wednesday that she and Wise practiced the alternative lifestyle, and he did not attack her. The two met online through a fetish website. Both Wise and Larsen also testified what happened was an accident and has been blown out of proportion.

"I never in a million years thought it would go this far," said Larsen. "That night was an accident. I didn't bring in the BDSM because I knew people wouldn't understand…It's a power exchange, it's not one person taking control."

She said their private life is being exposed and misconstrued in court.

"It doesn't matter what I do behind closed doors because I guarantee you there's probably 50 to 75 percent of the people out there do it too, they just don't talk about it," Larsen said.

Prosecutors said in March they pressed charges because the violence went beyond consent and that you cannot have a contract to commit a violent act against a person. Prosecutors said this is a case of domestic abuse.

Larsen said she never wanted to press charges or testify against Wise. Prosecutors contend Wise treats the women in his life as property and even showed jurors a slave-master contract Wise had drawn up.

Jurors will begin deliberating on the case Friday morning.