Court acquits man accused of raping step-daughter

The High Court in Suva has acquitted a man who was charged with raping his fiveand-a-half-year-old step-daughter last year.

Justice Riyaz Hamza upheld the unanimous verdict of the assessors when he found the accused not guilty for two counts of rape.

After considering all the evidence, he said he was of the opinion that more than a reasonable doubt was created by the defence.

The accused was alleged to have raped his step-daughter between January 1 and May 3 last year, in their home in Nasinu.

He pleaded not guilty to the offence and went through a three-day trial.

The complainant testified that the offence happened while she was trying to get diaper from a top shelf to give to her mother.

While she was standing, she said the accused allegedly performed a sexual act on her.

She said she felt pain and immediately relayed it to her guardian.

In his evidence, the accused denied ever committing such offence and said that he would such a thing.

He said he was being framed for something he did not do.

When the complainant’s mother heard about the incident, she asked her daughter about it in her sister’s presence and the complainant said the accused did not do it.

When the complainant was asked why she mentioned her step-father’s name, she responded saying her guardians had told her to say it because the accused was a bad man. The accused was acquitted and discharged from the case accordingly. never do