The accused is charged with one count of rape, one count of assault in an attempt  to commit rape and one count of kidnapping.

The man accused of raping his ex-wife in Nausori last year told the High Court yesterday that he did not abduct or pick up his ex-wife on the day of the alleged rape.

The accused took the witness stand. He is charged with one count of rape and one count of assault in an attempt to commit rape and one count of kidnapping.

His girlfriend, who took the witness stand also, told the court that she and the accused were together on the day the alleged rape incident took place.

As closing submissions were heard yesterday defence lawyer Miliana Tarai argued that the complainant  was not a credible witness, because she did not scream or fight back when two men allegedly grabbed her and forced her inside the taxi at Nausori Town.

Ms Tarai said the complainant’s entire evidence was false.

However, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) lawyer Susana Serukai, in her closing submission, said the accused knew the complainant did not consent to sex but he went ahead and forced her.

Ms Serukai told the court that the complainant was determined enough to stand as a witness and recall the trauma she went through on that particular day and the doctor’s report confirmed that she was a victim of assault.

Justice Salesi Temo will today sum up.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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