A FARMER has been convicted by the High Court in Labasa for raping his cousin’s partner after following her into a house under the pretext of making a phone call.
Justice Lee James Burney found the 35-year-old guilty of one count of rape earlier this month.
The incident occurred on the morning of October 6, 2023, when the 20-year-old victim returned indoors wearing only a towel after doing laundry and bathing.
The court was told the man entered the residence to make a phone call due to cellular coverage in the area, before grabbing the victim by the waist, pulling her onto a mattress, and raping her.
The victim fought back, managed to escape across a river to a relative’s house, and reported the assault.
The man denied the allegations, claiming he was framed over an ongoing farming dispute between him and his cousin.
Justice Burney found the victim to be a truthful and unshaken witness whose prompt report to relatives supported her credibility.
The man was given 30 days to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
