THE FATE OF A MAN CHARGED WITH VIOLENTLY RAPING HIS THEN-GIRFRIEND AT A JOHNSON CITY HOTEL LAST YEAR WILL BE LEFT UP TO A JONESBORO JURY. NICHOLAS TIPTON TOOK THE WITNESS STAND ON THURSDAY, ADMITTING TO BEATING AND CHOKING THE WOMAN, BUT ONLY AFTER SHE BIT HIM DURING AN ALTERCATION. HE TOLD JURORS THE TWO HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD CONSENSUAL SEX EARLIER ON THE EVENING IN QUESTION IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR AT THE BEST WESTERN HOTEL ON ROAN STREET. THE VICTIM ALSO TOOK THE STAND. WHILE ADMITTING TO HITTING THE WOMAN, THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL TIPTON HAS STEADFASTLY DENIED RAPING HIS THEN-GIRLFRIEND. A VERDICT IS EXPECTED SOON.