A 60-year-old woman who allegedly aided and abetted her husband  rape a 14-year-old girl told the High Court yesterday that the complainant might be “nuts in the head” and that she was lying.

The woman gave evidence before Justice Salesi Temo and is represented by private lawyer, Simione Valenitabua.

She is charged alongside her 60-year-old husband for raping the teenager between August 1, 2016 and August 31, 2016 in a settlement in Nasinu.

On the first count of rape the husband allegedly performed a sexual act on the complainant without her consent.

On the second count the wife allegedly aided and abetted her husband by luring the complainant into a room, closed the door and pushed her on the bed.

For the third count the husband allegedly used his finger to perform a sexual act on the complainant without her consent.

On the fourth count, he allegedly kissed her mouth without her consent and on the fifth count he showed her his private part.

While being questioned in cross examination by State Prosecutor Kimberley Semisi the woman confirmed that she has six children and had been neighbours with the complainant and her family for about 10 years.

She said in 2016 she was aware that the complainant was a Year 13 student and she knew her father and knew that they were going through financial difficulties because they were relying on social welfare assistance.

The accused disagreed with Ms Semisi that in 2016, she would sometimes ask the complainant to clean her house in exchange for money for her bus fare.

She said in the 10 years that they were neighbours the complainant never visited their home.

She testified that in August 2016 ,she was staying with her daughter in Vatuwaqa because she was looking after her grandchildren during the school holidays.

After the school holidays she said she continued looking after her two younger grandchildren who were aged four years and one year respectively.

Ms Semisi asked her if her husband had lied in his evidence on Tuesday when he said that the woman was with him in their Nasinu home in August, 2016.

She replied saying she was in Vatuwaqa.

Justice Temo asked her: “Why in the world would a young person like her come to court and point a finger against you in terms of her allegations?”

Justice Temo told her that her evidence did not match the complainant’s evidence and that there was only two possibilities, either the complainant was nuts in the head or she was telling the truth.

The daughter of the accused also gave evidence yesterday and said her mother was staying with her in Vatuwaqa in August, 2016 and would only go home to Nasinu on Sunday mornings and return on Sunday afternoon.

Trial continues in the High Court today.  Edited by Percy Kean

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