Attempt rape suspect freed

A MAN charged with attempting to rape a minor was freed by the Mount Hagen Committal Court yesterday after two State witnesses failed to identify the accused.
Magistrate Donald Joseph ruled that police had insufficient evidence to proceed with the prosecution of Des Tame.
Joseph said the minor and witness Lasarus Paraka did not properly identify Tame.
He said Tame’s name was mentioned when Paraka’s sister in-law saw Tame’s cap at the scene. When Tame fled, Paraka ran to the aid of the minor who was screaming.
The alleged attempted rape occurred between 10am and 11am on April 1, when the minor went into her banana garden in Tipi Village to gather fruits.
It was alleged that Tame followed her into the garden and threatened her with a pocket knife.
The minor alleged that Tame attacked her, removed her clothes, fondled her breasts and tried to rape her.
The minor screamed for help and Paraka and his sister in-law, who were picking coffee cherries nearby, then went to investigate the commotion.
Tame allegedly fled, leaving his cap, when the minor started screaming.
Joseph said Tame was never identified by the two State witnesses.
He said Paraka’s sister in-law saw the cap and claimed that it belonged to Tame.