Accused rapist to stand trial

A 20-YEAR-OLD man from Hela accused of raping his half-
brother in an army barracks in
Port Moresby has been committed to stand trial on multiple sex charges.
Magistrate Paul Nii ruled that there was enough evidence to have the man stand trial on charges of persistent sexual abuse, sexual penetration and deprivation of liberty while he struck out the charge of abuse of trust.
Magistrate Nii was satisfied that police evidence met all the elements of the offence of persistent sexual abuse.
Magistrate Nii also found enough evidence to make a case against the man on the charges of rape and deprivation of liberty.
He, however, found the charge of abuse of trust technically defective and not appropriate because the provision was specific
for persons between the ages of 16-18 and the victim was 11 years old.
It was alleged that between May 6 and Oct 10, 2020, when the victim and the man’s father who is a Defence Force Corporal, was deployed to Tari in Hela, the defendant committed the offences against the victim.
The man was alleged to have forcefully took the victim to
their father’s single barracks accommodation and assaulted
him.
Police alleged that on those occasions, the man threatened to kill the victim with a knife if he did not cooperate.