By Shallon S. Gonlor
SANNIQUELLIE, Nimba County – A 23-year-old man faces a significant prison sentence after a jury unanimously found him guilty of the attempted rape of a 7-year-old girl in Garplay Town.
The verdict against Austin Daynuah was delivered Thursday at the Sexual Offenses Division of the 8th Judicial Circuit Court, concluding a two-week trial that detailed a traumatic assault in a banana bush in November 2024.
Presiding Judge Musa S. Sidibey has ordered a pre-sentence investigation report from the Ministry of Justice’s Probation Division, due by September 9. The final sentencing is scheduled for September 11.
The court heard chilling testimony from the young victim, who testified in-camera (in private) for her protection. She described how the defendant covered her mouth, led her to a banana bush, removed her clothes, and “did bad things” to her.
Her rescue came when her mother, Rita Nuah, arrived on the scene. “I saw Austin coming from the banana bush after he saw me. And my daughter started to come to me without clothes on, and she was crying,” Nuah testified in open court. The defendant allegedly fled, leaving his shirt behind.
Prosecution and Defense: A Clash of Narratives
The prosecution, led by Atty. Joseph Suah, built its case on five witnesses and two subpoenaed testimonies. A key piece of evidence was the medical report presented by Martha Gonleh, the SGBV focal person at the Karnplay Comprehensive Health Center. While the examination found the victim’s hymen intact with no evidence of penetration—consistent with an *attempted* rather than completed rape—it supported the victim’s account of a physical assault.
The defense, led by Cllr. Tarlo Wehyee, presented three witnesses, including Daynuah himself. The defendant denied all charges, claiming they were a fabrication stemming from a long-standing feud between his late parents and the victim’s family. He asserted he was falsely identified by the victim’s mother.
The jury found the prosecution’s evidence more compelling, returning a guilty verdict.
Following the verdict, Defense Lawyer Wehyee immediately took exception and announced plans to appeal. Prosecuting Lawyer Suah welcomed the decision, praising the jury for its service.
Judge Sidibey, who has a track record of stern sentences in sexual violence cases, will now consider the pre-sentence report. Past rulings suggest a substantial sentence is likely; the judge has previously sentenced a 62-year-old man to 10 years in prison for the attempted rape of a 4-year-old and handed life sentences to two gang rapists.
Criminal attempt to commit rape is a second-degree felony under Liberian law, defined as purposely taking a substantial step toward committing the act.
