Family members of three young boys accused of raping a 13-year-old girl displayed emotional reactions, including tears and heavy sighs, upon hearing the jury’s verdicts after almost 10 hours of deliberation.
During the trial, prosecutors alleged that the boys, aged 12, 13, and 14 at the time, raped the girl when she was 13. However, the jury found all three boys not guilty of the charges. Two of the boys, now aged 16 and 15, were acquitted of rape and two ‘joint enterprise’ counts.
The jury deliberated on whether the third boy, now 14, had committed the acts or encouraged the other boys, as he was deemed unfit to stand trial. Ultimately, the jury determined that he did not commit the offenses.
The courtroom atmosphere was tense, with family members of the defendants closely watching the proceedings. The verdict announcement prompted emotional reactions, with one individual exclaiming “Jesus” upon hearing the outcome.
The alleged incident, which took place in Rochdale town center in February 2024, involved the boys allegedly raping the girl in turns and swapping positions. Prosecutors mentioned that part of the assault was recorded on a mobile phone and shared among the boys and others.
The trial revealed that the group, including the boys and two 13-year-old girls, interacted at a tram stop before boarding the tram. During the journey, interactions between the boys, the girls, and an elderly lady were noted, with some joking and flirtatious behavior observed.
Subsequently, the group disembarked at a station, where the boys allegedly made suggestive remarks to the girl. Prosecutors claimed that the girl’s friend intervened when the situation escalated in nearby bushes.
Despite differing accounts presented in court, the jury ultimately found the boys not guilty on all charges. The trial concluded with families embracing and shedding tears as the boys were discharged from court.