An 87-year-old rape accused laughed in the High Court in Suva on Friday after Justice Salesi Temo asked him if he had raped the 11-year-old com­plainant.

The accused laughed in response and said the girl was lying.

He is charged with two counts of rape and one count of sexual as­sault. The alleged incidents hap­pened between April 19, 2016, and to May 28, 2016.

While giving evidence during the trial the accused was told that the doctor saw lacerations on the com­plainant’s private parts. The ac­cused said he did not know about that. Justice Temo questioned him if he was married in 2016, to which he said his wife had died eight years ago in 2010.

Furthermore, Justice Temo asked him if he ever got lonely between 2010 and 2016. The accused said he never got lonely. Then he disagreed that on April 19, 2016, he called the girl into his bedroom to tidy his bed before kissing her. Justice Temo asked the accused if it was possi­ble that he was lying instead of the complainant.

The accused replied saying he was not lying. In his evidence he said he had eye problems, hearing problems and chest pains. He said he could not urinate without taking his tablets.

His lawyer Samanunu Vaniqi asked him if he recognised the complainant, who was giving evi­dence in court.

He said he could not see the girl, but he knew someone was sitting in the witness box. The trial continues in the High Court tomorrow.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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