Court commits man to trial over sexual abuse of niece, 4

A MAN has been committed to stand trial in the National Court after sufficient evidence was found against him on the charge of persistent sexual abuse.
Committal Court Magistrate Mekeo Gauli made the ruling against the man (name withheld) who allegedly assaulted his four-year-old niece.
The court heard that the alleged incident occurred at 9-Mile, Port Moresby, on June 21 last year.
The man is the brother of the girl’s father.
It was alleged that the man used to sex ally abuse the girl when the parents were away. The girl’s mother caught him once and reported the matter to the police who arrested him.
Gauli considered the statement from the girl and the mother plus her medical report.
Gauli said the sexual penetration charge against the man had to be dropped because there was no record of the police interview.
He will only be tried on the persistent sexual abuse charge.
He is in custody to await his appearance for listing on April 16.