Ipswich man who was alleged to have raped his niece found not guilty

A jury has delivered is verdict in the case of a man accused of the alleged rape of his niece when she was aged five to 11.

A jury has found an Ipswich man not guilty of the alleged rape of his niece when she was aged five to 11.

The 22-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the child, stood trial last week after pleading guilty to three counts of rape, as well as indecent treatment of a child under 16 and maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child under 12.

The Ipswich District Court heard the man was alleged to have raped and engaged in sexual acts with his niece when he was aged 14 to 20 and she was five to 11.

The trial lasted four days and the court heard from the alleged victim, the child’s mother, father, a police officer involved in the matter, the defendant’s mother and father (who is also the girl’s grandfather) and another uncle.

Defence barrister Craig Eberhardt said in his opening statement that the defence case was “pretty simple” – the offending did not happen.

Mr Eberhardt said there was no physical or DNA evidence supporting the allegations and his client had made no admissions and denied the allegations when confronted by police at his home.

He said the child’s credibility was the central issue in the trial and that her version of events was contradictory and changed from her police interview to her prerecording of evidence.

The jury found the man not guilty on all charges.

Originally published as Ipswich man who was alleged to have raped his niece found not guilty