Court

Ba man acquitted of rape charge

May 17, 2019 12:25 pm

A Ba resident is finally free after four years of being charged with one count of rape.

The man was acquitted of the charges by the Lautoka High court this week.

He was alleged to have raped a mother of two in Namau Ba in December 2015.

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The court heard the accused had gone to the victim’s place to drink grog while her husband was away for a few days.

The alleged offence took place after the accused finished drinking grog.

The High court Judge noted there was a contradiction in the victim’s statement.

The court noted that she reported the matter a month after the alleged incident and she contradicted herself by saying that she had informed her husband and the Women’s Crisis Center at the first available interview.

The High court Judge said the complainants attempt to cover up the lateness diminished the credibility of her evidence.

The Judge said the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of the offence of rape and acquitted the man.