The Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court sitting in Awka, on Friday discharged and acquitted 26-year-old, Michael Arinze, accused of raping three girls at gunpoint at Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra state.
Arinze was arraigned in July 2022 and pleaded not guilty to the eight count charge bothering on rape, robbery and threatening violence,
The offences contravened Section 5 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law of Anambra State 2017 and Section 347 of the Criminal Code Cap 36 Vol. II Revise Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991, as amended.
He was alleged to have raped and robbed the girls of their handsets and money at gunpoint at different locations on April 5, July 8 and 15, 2022, respectively.
Delivering judgment, Justice Peace Otti said there was no consistency in the evidence of the witnesses produced by the prosecution.
Otti said further that prosecutory evidence was inconsistent with the defendant's confessional statement.
"No independent witness testified to corroborate the story of the prosecution, no medical doctor was called as a witness to confirm medical reports and no medical report was also tendered to prove prosecution's case.
"The Court in criminal cases does not dwell on speculations but on credible, vital and relevant evidence. The guilt of the defendant was not proved beyond reasonable doubt.
"I find the defendant not guilty and the defendant is hereby discharged and acquitted," she said.