BY ROMINAH FAKA
The High Court has convicted a 24-year-old man for assaulting and raping his girlfriend twice at his house in Honiara in October 2023.
On Tuesday this week, July 8, Judge John Keniapisia delivered the judgement.
In delivering judgment, court was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant had penial sexual intercourse with the complainant twice without her consent.
This amounted to rape, as charged in counts 2 and 3.
Court convicted the defendant of two counts of rape and one count of common assault, based on his guilty plea.
On March 11, 2025, court arraigned the defendant, which he pleaded guilty to the common assault charge and not guilty to the two counts of rape.
Trial proceeded and prosecution produced evidence by calling the complainant and her aunt as the crown witnesses and tendered exhibits by consent.
Defense chose to remain silent without calling any witnesses and proceeded on to closing submission.
Court heard around 10pm on October 28, 2023, the defendant went to the complainant’s house, assaulted her and took her away in a forceful and threatening manner to his house, after he punched her face.
At the defendant’s house in his master bedroom, the defendant beat the complainant up with his right-hand, and whipped her with an electric red cable.
He also showed a knife twice and threatened that she would be cut with the knife.
Later, he forcefully had sexual intercourse with the complainant twice without her consent.
The complainant was detained, imprisoned and held hostage from October 28 to 29, when she was finally allowed to leave.
She returned October 31 to her house and rested for a week to recover before seeking medical treatment at the National Reference Hospital.
Court has adjourned the next hearing for September 1, 2025 for sentencing submissions from counsels.
Georgina Oroi and Fransica Luza are prosecuting and Ben Alasia act for the defendant.
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