A Grave Tale Unveiled
It’s a chilling story that unfolded in 2018, yet the roots of the crime stretch back more than a decade.
The Early Years
- 2004 – The girl’s parents filed for divorce, citing her mother’s relationship with the man in question.
- 2005 – The alleged perpetrator moved in with the family, and a New Year’s fireworks outing at the Esplanade set the stage for events that would haunt everyone involved.
- 2010 – He married the girl’s mother, cementing his position as “uncle” to the young woman, while she saw him as her step‑dad.
How It All Started
During the fireworks night, the accused and the girl, along with her brother and cousin, enjoyed a few drinks. When the rest slept, he slipped into the room where the girl slept and, beneath a light haze of alcohol, kissed and touched her. When she resisted, the assault turned into a full‑blown sexual violation.
The Continuing Pattern
- Late 2015 – After the girl’s boyfriend discovered disturbing sexual messages on her phone, her father reported her case to the police.
- He would allegedly “pacify” her, lock her room door, and force sexual encounters on her, sometimes a month apart.
- Offenders are accused of engaging in “unnatural” acts and of forcing the victim to undergo an abortion.
Exposed at Last
The truth finally surfaced when the girl’s boyfriend found that “lewd” phone messages. The family at the time thought it was mere flirtation; the father quickly intervened.
The Legal Fallout
Charges and Sentencing
- Witnessed by the court: the accused, then 52, apologised to the court for having three counts of fondling.
- He was given 3.5 years in jail. Each of the three other charges could have led to up to five years and a fine of $10,000.
- In total, the possible penalty was huge, but the final sentence remained at a fraction of the maximum.
The Aftermath
The victim left with deep psychological scars and an empty future. While the man has served his sentence, the heartbreak remains which many courts must keep under close scrutiny.
