Victim in alleged rape tells of what happened after party

Woman allegedly attacked by her husband’s nephew.

A53-year-old woman who was allegedly raped in Mualevu Village, Vanaubalavu, took the witness stand first yesterday for the prosecution. It is alleged that the woman was raped by her husband’s nephew during a homebrew drinking party inside the home of the accused at the village on September 1, 2012. The complainant is a mother of three who lives with her husband in the village.

THE ACCUSED, CHARGE

The matter was called before Justice Achala Wengappuli.

The accused, who is charged with rape, had pleaded not guilty and is being represented by Panapasa Tawake.

VICTIM TELLS

She told the High Court in Suva yesterday that on the day she was allegedly raped she was drunk from homebrew. When she woke up suddenly she saw her husband’s nephew on top of her.

“All of a sudden when I opened my eyes I felt my body rocking and I saw the accused face, he was lying on top of me,” she told the court.

“I said to him, hey what are you doing, get off me and as I was telling him that I was shocked as I knew I was being raped and my body felt tired and I just blacked out.”

She further stated in court that when her daughter came looking for her, the daughter asked what was wrong with her because she was lying naked in the living room.

She said her daughter helped her up, gave her something to cover up with and took her home where she slept till midnight. The complainant said she told her husband what his nephew allegedly did. Her husband then asked her if she wanted to report the matter to Police, she said yes and reported the matter.

The trial continues today.