Monrovia – Defendant Marion Zorh who was arrested by thePolice and detained barely a month ago on allegation of rape is expected to go on trial shortly at the Criminal Court “E” at the Temple of Justice .
Zorh made a brief appearance at the Criminal Court “E” on Thursday but was ordered back to jail by court officers at the Monrovia Central Prison until Tuesday morning, April 7, 2016 for the resumption of a preliminary trial, FrontPageAfrica has reliably learnt from court sources.
Defendant Zorh was arrested by officers of the Liberian NationalPolice (LNP) on February 17, 2016 for allegedly raping a 14-yr old with a didlo (false penis) predicated upon a complaint of the girl’s father.
The victim’s father, quoted by thePolice, alleged that his daughter who lived in the same yard with the defendant had gone in the room of the defendant to prepare food for her baby where she was allegedly offered a cup of juice that made her to fall asleep, making it possible for the alleged rape to take place.
According to the victim’s father as quoted by thePolice, after the incident, the victim awoke and saw blood in her under clothes and when she confronted the defendant, she allegedly admitted committing the act and showed her the false penis, adding, “that this was the false penis I used to have intercourse with you.”
The victim’s father also claimed that after the incident, the defendant allegedly admitted committing the crime and offered the victim the amount of LD$400 to buy medicine.
“She also used her finger into her private part during another incident when she had gone in her room to watch movie,” said the victim‘s father as quoted by thePolice in the charge sheet.
Defendant Zorh who was investigated by the Women and Children Protection Section (WACPS) of the LNP denied any involvement in the act butPolice say she admitted knowing the victim as well as offering the victim money but said that the money was intended for food.
Police say that based on the facts and circumstances gathered during the investigation it resolved to charge the defendant with the crime of statutory rape in violation of the New Penal Law of the Republic of Liberia.
Zorh who faces a charge of statutory rape covered her face in shame and walked out of a crowded courtroom of the Monrovia City Court last February while being escorted to the Monrovia Central Prison by court officers to be remanded pending prosecution drawing curious onlookers.
She is the first woman to be tried by the court since its establishment by an act of the National Legislature in 2009 in the wake of a reported growing rate of rape cases across the country.
