BY ROMINAH FAKA

The trial of a teacher facing a rape charge is set to begin today at the High Court before Deputy Chief Justice, Rex Faukona.

The defendant who cannot be named to protect the identity of the alleged victim is charged with one count of rape and has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecution will call two witnesses.

The accused in this case is a 42-year-old man and the victim was 16 years old at the time the incident occurred.

Both are related as uncle and niece.

Police alleged that on August 25, 2023 at around 10pm the defendant was drunk and alone in his room and his wife was not at home because she was disappointment that the defendant was drinking.

The alleged victim was in her room in the same house when the defendant called her to bring him some water.

She got up, took a bottle of water then walked to her uncle’s bedroom and handed him the bottle of water. The defendant quickly grabbed her left hand, causing her to fall to the floor.

The accused then raped her.

The next morning the alleged victim packed her clothes and went to her aunt’s house.

On September 22, 2023 the matter was reported to the Sexual Assault Unit in Rove, where an investigation was carried out.

On November 7, 2023 the defendant was arrested and underwent a record of interview and was formally charged with rape.

Monica Rehomora from the Office of Public Prosecution is prosecuting and Bobby Harunari act for the defendant.

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