Dad admits to "indecent assault" of 12-year-old daughter (Solomon Islands)

UNNAMED DAD has denied that he raped his 12-year-old daughter, but he has pleaded guilty to "indecent assault."

http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/4172-father-admits-indecently-assaulting-daughter-12

Father admits indecently assaulting daughter, 12

Wednesday, 24 March 2010 13:57

A FATHER who earlier denied attempting to rape his 12-year-old daughter yesterday pleaded guilty to the lesser serious charges of indecent assault.

The father, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim, appeared before Principal Magistrate Steve Wilson.

He was originally charged with three counts of attempted rape.

The matter was scheduled for trial yesterday, however the father decided to enter a change of pleas to the substituted charges.

The prosecution decided to withdraw the charges after finding insufficient evidence to support the original charges.

The father committed the offences on various dates between end of May and August in 2009 at various locations in Guadalcanal.

His lawyer Anderson Kesaka has sought a short adjournment to prepare mitigation.

Magistrate Wilson adjourned the matter to March 25 for mitigational sentence.

The accused was further remanded in custody.

By ASSUMPTA PIVA