A 19-year-old man convicted of raping his 11-year-old cousin has been sentenced to 13 months in prison, with five months to be served immediately and the remaining eight months suspended for three years.
The incident happened in 2021 while they were sleeping at their grandfather’s house. However, it was not reported to the police until March of last year. The defendant was arrested six months later.
In sentencing the teenager, Suva High Court Judge Justice Dane Tuiqereqere considered the defendant’s young age at the time of the offence, his guilty plea, and his cooperation with the police as mitigating factors. However, the court also highlighted the seriousness of the crime, the breach of trust, the age difference, and the long-term impact on the victim.
In her sentencing statement, the victim, identified by her initials in court documents, shared how the incident impacted her schooling and made her feel unsafe at home, causing her to avoid being there. She described herself as a good child before the rape but believes the experience has set her on a different path. She also expressed distress over her own family blaming her for what happened.
The court also issued a permanent name suppression order for the victim and a Domestic Violence Restraining Order against the defendant to prevent any contact with her.
The defendant has 30 days to appeal the sentence.
