A STATE lawyer told the High Court that enough evidence was produced during the trial to prove eight counts of sexual offences committed by a police officer against his then 13-year-old cousin.
Prosecutor Katarina Dugan made the submission during closing arguments before Justice Dane Tuiqereqere in the case of the 40-year-old accused, who is married with three children.
The accused allegedly began committing the offences against his cousin in 2021.
Ms Dugan acknowledged a delay in reporting the matter, adding that the victim had tried to push the perpetrator away during the incident, but it was futile.
The court heard that the man allegedly sexually assaulted her multiple times in 2019. He is also alleged to have raped her on four occasions in 2021 and further allegedly defiled her between 2022 and 2024.
Defence lawyer Joji Cakau maintained that the State failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, pointing to inconsistencies in the victim’s testimony.
Mr Cakau argued that the victim had fallen in love with the accused and had consented to the acts from 2022, claiming the State failed to prove a lack of consent.
Judgment will be delivered on June 15 and the officer’s bail has been extended in the meantime.
