The man on trial for the rape of a student at Gizo in 2010 has been found guilty of the rape offences yesterday in Gizo, during a High Court circuit.
Justice Stephen Pallaras convicted the 41-year-old father of four of the two counts of rape but acquitted him of the indecent charge.
The defence yesterday after the accused’s conviction have orally submitted their sentencing submission and mitigation.
Prosecution will be filing in their sentencing submission on a later date.
Crown Prosecutor Andrew Kelesi however yesterday did file the victim impact statement.
A victim impact statement is a statement given by the victim of how she felt after the rape incident and the impact the rape incident had affected her.
No date has been scheduled for Dick Alu’s sentencing but it is likely to be soon.
Alu raped the then 19-year-old girl once in the boat at Buruburu Island near Gizo and at a market stall at Malakerava between 12 midnight and 2am of July 2, 2010.
The accused whom is the boat driver did not drop the victim off her village despite pleas for him to do so.
After dropping off other people on the boat to their village, Alu then turned the boat back to Gizo with only him and the victim on the board.
The victim boarded the boat from Gizo intending to spend the weekend at her village.
Alu is represented by Benham Ifuto’o of Public Solicitor’s Office.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
