The defense attorney for a former church deacon accused of raping and stabbing to death a French-woman in a Glover Park town home attacked the victim’s morals during closing arguments Wednesday, calling her a “loose woman” for birthing six children and traveling independently of her husband.

Melvin Jackson Jr., of the 1700 block of Trinidad Avenue NE, is on trial for allegedly stabbing Raymonde Plantiveau 21 times in the back Dec. 1, 1983. Jackson was a deacon at Sonship Church Center, according to court documents.