Undisclosed images cause rape case collapse

A RAPE case has collapsed just days before it was due to begin, after it emerged that photographs showing the defendant in bed with his accuser had not been disclosed to the defence.

Samson Makele, 28, was due to go on trial later this month, accused of raping a woman who he met at the Notting Hill Carnival in 2016.

However, at a pre-trial hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court yesterday, prosecutors offered no evidence after discovering that crucial photographs had not been disclosed by detectives.

It is the latest in a string of cases to collapse because of a failure to share vital information and has prompted a major review of rape cases being investigated by Scotland Yard.

Mr Makele, who is originally from Eritrea, was accused of raping a 35-year-old woman he met at the Notting Hill Carnival.

The couple took a taxi back to Mr Makele’s flat in Hackney where they had sex and the woman stayed the night. The next day she went to police and told them she had been raped and also accused Mr Makele of preventing her from leaving his flat.

Mr Makele’s phone was examined during the investigation but his lawyers were told that apart from a number of text messages, there was nothing else of interest on the handset.

But lawyers for the defendant undertook their own examination of the phone and found images stored showing the couple cuddling in bed.