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Defense lawyer pushes in court that 13-year-old boy went willingly to his clients

Defense lawyer pushes in court that 13-year-old boy went willingly to his clients

The defense lawyer in the trial of the four men who allegedly raped their 13-year-old nephew in Tailevu, continued to push in the High Court that the boy had willingly gone to the homes of three of his clients.

Nemani Tuifagalele continued to question the boy on how he was able to see the first accused when two out of three doors and windows in the kitchen were closed.

The boy continued to insist in court that the first accused was waving at him and calling him to the house.

The alleged incidents occurred in Tailevu between November 2015 to March last year.

The boy was 13 at the time of the alleged incidents.

The four uncles have been charged with one count each of rape and all of them have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The first accused is 40-years-old, the second accused is 32, the third accused is 45 while the fourth accused is 42.

Defense lawyer Tuifagalele had also asked the 14-year-old boy if the statement he had given was correct and whether he was coached to tell the story he was now telling in court.

The boy replied that his statement is correct and no one had coached him.

The defense lawyer also told the boy that he seemed to be very good at responding quite quickly when people called or waved at him, as in the case of the first, second and third accused persons.

Presiding judge Justice Salesi Temo then intervened and said the defense lawyer should ask about the first accused only as the discussion was about him at that time.

The trial continues today.

Three of the accused persons have been given bail while the third accused who is 45-years-old remains in custody.

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