Grandfather sexual assault

The Waigani National Court conducted a trial last week against the man from Abau in the Central Province and found him not guilty because it was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt he was the one who sexually assaulted the girl.

Both the state and defence put forward a strong case in the trial that saw five witnesses give evidence in court.

The man, from Abau, Central Province, pleaded not guilty in court today after the state and trial judge read the allegations against him in court.

It is the state's allegation that the man, who was seen as a grandfather to the victim and her other siblings, sexually touched her while she was sleeping.

The victim was nine years old at the time of the alleged offence.

This allegedly took place on the morning of 20 March 2015, between 5 and 5:30.