Justin Yang’s client acquitted of multiple rape counts.

Justin represented a defendant accused of orally and vaginally raping his 16 year old cousin. It was alleged that the defendant, then living alone in supported accommodation, had spent the evening with his younger cousin who said she wanted to get to know him better. Overnight guests were not permitted at those premises. The entry logs were therefore falsified to conceal her stay. During the course of the evening, they had smoked cannabis together, and it was alleged that the defendant had also taken cocaine by himself. A playfight of sorts ensued thereafter, where the defendant took her phone away and tickled her. It was alleged that he then forced her head down to his groin, and raped her orally. The complainant claimed that she had been frozen in fear, and did not feel that she could leave or call for help as she said no one knew she was there. She had stayed the night on the bed, and the defendant slept on the couch. It was alleged that the defendant had approached her in the dark during the night, and raped her vaginally from behind.

Evidence included text messages from the complainant and her wider family regarding this incident, as well as her live evidence at court.

After a 5-day trial at Wood Green Crown Court, the jury unanimously acquitted Justin’s client of all counts on the Indictment.

Justin was instructed by Anne-Marie Geraghty of Blackfords LLP.