Three boys accused of sexually assaulting a girl in a wooded area when they were 12, 13, and 14 have been acquitted of all charges. The Minshull Street Crown Court was told that the boys refuted allegations of taking turns and switching positions during the incident, which supposedly was recorded on a mobile device. The trio, whose identities are protected by law, were cleared of the accusations today.
Two of the teenagers, now aged 15 and 16, faced trial at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court. The third boy, who was 12 at the time and is now 14, was considered unfit to stand trial, as per jurors’ information.
The boys denied the allegations, claiming that the encounter was consensual. Following a two-week trial, the 16-year-old and 15-year-old were found not guilty of three counts of rape.
Jurors deliberated on whether the 14-year-old, previously deemed unfit for trial, had participated in the acts or incited the other boys. Ultimately, they concluded that he had not committed the offenses, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
The young girl involved, whose identity is also shielded by law, was reportedly assaulted near the Newbold tram stop in Rochdale in February 2024. Prosecutors described how she was forced and assaulted, with the boys allegedly taking turns. The jury heard that the girl did not consent to the acts, as evidenced by her refusal when asked.
Video evidence presented in court captured some of the events, including sounds of approval and derogatory language directed at the girl. The prosecution argued that the boys engaged in the assault in a coordinated manner. The defense emphasized the nuanced nature of consent in such situations, highlighting the adolescents’ lack of maturity.
After nearly ten hours of deliberation, the jury unanimously acquitted all three boys of the charges brought against them.
