Rapist aquitted on producing marriage certificate

By. D.G.Sugathapala   

An accused who stood indicted with rape of an under-age girl was acquitted by Galle High Court Judge Purnima Paranagama, when the defence informed court that the accused and the victim were married and they are parents of a child.  

She was 14 yeas old and he 17 years at the time of the incident in 2020 and the Neluwa police had initiated action. The young woman with her child appeared before the judge and when the child started to cry she handed over him to a relative present in court and made a statement.   

The accused produced their marriage certificate in court  
State Counsel Madhavi De Silva made submissions for the state.