A 49-year-old man facing charges for allegedly raping his 13-year-old niece in September is set to retake his plea in the High Court in Suva. The accused has been charged with multiple offenses, including four counts of sexual assault, one count of rape, and one count of indecent assault.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the young victim had visited her uncle’s home to return an item belonging to his daughter when the alleged incidents occurred. The situation was reported to the authorities by the victim’s mother at the Vunidawa Police Station.
The Director of Public Prosecutions was prepared to present the summary of facts for the case and conduct the sentencing hearing. However, the accused’s legal team indicated that certain issues in the charge sheet required amendments before moving forward with the reading of the summary.
Consequently, the hearings related to mitigation and sentencing have been postponed until the new plea is entered. The accused remains in custody, and the case has been adjourned until December 12.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges surrounding sexual assault cases and the importance of a careful judicial process. It is essential that the legal framework allows for thorough examinations of all aspects involved to ensure justice is served while protecting the rights of all parties.
Summary: A 49-year-old man accused of raping his 13-year-old niece will retake his plea in a High Court in Suva after issues with the charge sheet. Multiple offenses against him have been reported, and the case has been adjourned until December 12 for further proceedings.
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