3 Oct 2017

Samoan to defend himself in sex crime case

8:47 am on 3 October 2017

A Samoan man in his late forties will be defending himself in court today against 46 charges including rape, unlawful sexual connection and indecent assault.

No caption

Photo: 123rf

The defendant was successful in applying for the government to pay a lawyer.

However, yesterday, the court accepted the defence lawyer's application to withdraw as counsel because of a dispute with the defendant.

The 2015 victims of the alleged sexual offences were girls under 16 years of age who are the youngest sister-in-laws of the accused.

The case will be presided by three men and a two women assessors in the presence of a Supreme Court judge.