MAN TO SERVE FIVE YEARS JAIL TERM FOR RAPE
The High Court of Solomon Islands. Photo credit: SIBC.
A young father from Western Province will serve five years in jail for raping his close female relative.
The defendant, Edwin Palmer was a frequent visitor to the victim’s home and trusted by her parents.
She was 14 years old and a student at the time of the offence last year.
The Court heard she was alone at their home when the defendant visited.
While he was there, she decided to go the shop.
He followed her and on her way back, accosted her and committed the offence on a quiet part of the road.
Handing down the sentence today, Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer says rape is a very serious offence.
Sir Albert says its sentence must reflect the seriousness and revulsion which the public holds against it ,and the need to protect young children.
He says rape by someone known to the victim and in fairly close proximity, seems to be quite common and needs to be addressed seriously in the community as wells as by other stakeholders.
SIBC News understands compensation has been paid to normalize relations between the victim and the defendant’s families.