GUILTY! Verulam man convicted of rape and human trafficking of stepdaughter
The Verulam man accused of raping his stepdaughter has been found guilty.
He was arrested in 2018 after allegations he had kept the child locked up and repeatedly abused her.
The girl was 11 at the time.
Newswatch’s Nushera Soodyal report
Judge Mohini Moodley said the accused had tried to portray himself as a victim.
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She said instead, the accused was a compulsive liar who was caught out on more than one occasion trying to mislead the court.
She said the man’s arrogance and narcissism came through in his responses.
The judge described the now 13-year-old survivor as a strong and steadfast witness – and said the girl’s testimony was too detailed to be false.
She said it was clear the man kept her out of school in order to hide his nefarious actions.
Sentencing proceedings will commence in January.
