A MAN who allegedly raped his step-daughter at the Kola’a Ridge graveyard in 2013 has been cleared off the charge.
This followed the girl’s change of story in the witness box, admitting the sex was consensual.
This was on Wednesday in the High Court when the matter came for trial.
As a result the prosecution decided not to call further evidence and Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer had the accused in his 30s acquitted of the rape charge.
So far, this would be the third rape accused who had been acquitted this month following the alleged victims’ change of story.
The girl in this case earlier alleged that her step-father raped her while they were at the graveyard at the Kola’a Ridge on the night of 10 October 2013.
She was living with her uncle at East Honiara when she allegedly felt pain in her tummy and so her step father was called to pick her up that night.
This is for her to go to her granny’s grave at Kola’a Ridge to apologise to the grave because she had an argument with her mother at an earlier date.
It was while they were at the grave that she alleged her step-father raped her.
The accused was represented by Resly Brook of Public Solicitor’s Office while Public Prosecutor Margaret Suifa’asia appeared for the State.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
