THE trial of a man who allegedly raped his niece while she was sleeping at her grandmother's home has started in the High Court in Suva.
The alleged incident happened on October 29, 2010, when the accused, who is the complainant's uncle, came home drunk and allegedly raped her.
The accused allegedly forced himself on the complainant who was a Form Four student and was staying with her grandmother and five of her uncles while she attended school.
The complainant, who is also the main prosecution witness, informed the court that she was sleeping in the sitting room with her grandmother when the accused allegedly blocked her mouth and removed her clothes. It was around 11:30pm.
She told the court that the accused released her about 12 midnight and ran into the room because another of her uncles came home from work in a taxi.
Furthermore, she told the court that she refused to inform the matter to any of her family members because the accused was related to her grandmother as well.
However, on November 1, 2010, she reported the matter to her cousin who is a police officer.
The complainant said her cousin refused to take any action but rather advised her to return home and that he would speak to her uncle.
She told the court that on February 4, 2011, she visited another cousin and told her about the incident.
Her cousin then advised her to report the matter to police and her parents.
Director of Public Prosecutions lawyer Josaia Niudamu informed the court while addressing the assessors that the incident took place one week before the complainant sat for her Fiji Junior Certificate (FJC) Examination.
The trial will continue today.