A teenager, who was deemed unfit to stand trial for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl, engaged in playful boxing with his mother upon returning home after the incident. The boy also requested to stay overnight at a friend’s house, with his mother mentioning that she observed nothing unusual in his behavior.
The 16-year-old teenager is accused of raping the girl near a footpath in Rochdale alongside two other boys aged 12, 13, and 14 at the time. During the incident in February 2024, it was reported that the boys took turns and switched positions while assaulting the girl.
Allegedly, part of the assault was recorded on a mobile phone and shared among the boys and others. All three boys have denied the allegations brought against them.
In the ongoing trial at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, two of the teenagers, now 15 and 16, are facing charges, while the third boy, now 14, was found unfit to stand trial due to diagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning difficulties with ASD traits.
The defense lawyer for the 14-year-old explained that he was declared unfit for trial based on expert evaluations. The boy’s mother recounted that he seemed normal when he returned home on the day of the incident and even requested to spend the night at a relative’s house.
According to the prosecuting attorney, the boys collaborated in the assault, with the girl being physically coerced during the rape. The prosecution argues that the 15 and 16-year-olds are guilty of rape, asserting that they understood the concept of consent. The defense may claim the girl consented to some activities.
The trial disclosed that the girl’s friend intervened to halt the assault, after which the 15 and 16-year-olds fled the scene. The prosecutor also mentioned that the 14-year-old was actively involved in the incident and the jury would determine his role in the act without the girl’s consent.
The charges in the indictment include five counts of rape, with three counts attributed to each boy individually and two under a joint enterprise. All three boys have pleaded not guilty to the charges.