BRENTWOOD — Defense lawyers for ex-Salem planning board member Jeffrey Gray cross-examined a Queens, N.Y., woman on Thursday, suggesting her claims of being raped and held against her will were peppered with contradictions.

“He raped me. He ripped my soul out,” the woman testified, holding back sobs during the second day of Gray's kidnapping and sexual assault trial in Rockingham County Superior Court.

The woman was 7½ months pregnant when Gray ordered her to put a diaper on him and demanded she role play a “mommy and baby” fantasy, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said Gray punched the woman in the head when she refused to comply and talked in a baby-like voice during the sex assaults between last March 8 and 9.

Defense lawyers argued on Thursday that the 36-year-old woman fabricated the story after she and Gray had a falling out and was sent back to New York City.

The woman broke down on the stand and sobbed when defense lawyer Anthony Naro suggested that claims about rape were a by-product of Gray rejecting her as a roommate and possible romantic interest.

“He hurt me, he degraded me. How can someone be so sick? How can a sick man do something like that to a pregnant woman? He acted like nothing happened,” the woman testified, while looking at the jury.

Gray, 50, claims he had consensual sex with the woman.

Thursday was the defense's first chance to question the woman in front of the jury.

Naro said the woman had been rejected in her last two relationships and felt jilted by Gray when he told her she wasn't going to work out as a roommate.

The woman had been flirtatious with Gray during their online chats, according to the defense. That happened after Gray responded to an advertisement the woman placed under the housing section of Craigslist.

Jurors heard testimony by Windham and Salem police officers about the investigation and search of Gray's home last March 10. The search yielded baby blankets, a pacifier, diapers and other items described by the woman.

Prosecutors challenged the defense's theory by playing an audio recording of a police interview with the woman after she reported the alleged assault.

At least four jurors bowed their heads while listening to the audio recording. One male juror put his head in his hands as he listened to the woman sobbing through her words during the police interview.

The woman said during the interview that Gray tried to intimidate her, claiming he was well known in town as a public official. Gray was an elected member of Salem Planning Board when he was arrested last March.

“He said people respect him, he knows all the attorneys, all the police,” the woman said.

Closing arguments are expected to begin today.

jkimble@newstote.com