March 10, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
A twelve year-old girl who is alleged to have been sexually penetrated by one 58 yrs old Paul Daniel Frank has on the 4th March, testified before Justice Cosmotina Jarrett at the Sexual Offense Court in Freetown. Led in evidence by State prosecutor Augustine Shaku, the witness said she recognized the accused as her uncle.
The victim said she recalled that sometimes within 1st January to 31st December, 2016 she was sleeping in the parlor of her aunty (Francess) marital house and said she felt someone on top of her. The victim said she woke up quickly and saw her aunt’s husband (accused) on top of her. “Immediately, I asked him what he was doing on top of me”.
The victim said the accused person Paul Daniel Frank stuff her mouth with the pillow to prevent her from screaming. She said later the accused person started putting his fingers into her vagina and later used his penis. During her testimony, the victim said after a while her aunty and uncle started having problem in their marital home. She said that the accused person started having sex with her within the ages of 9-11 years at the said house at Brook Field Freetown.
The 12-year old victim added that they were three in number at the said house (Aunty Francess, Paul Daniel Frank and herself) in Brook Field, Freetown. She said that they were living in a room and a parlor apartment. The victim revealed to the court that when her aunty fall asleep during the night, that is the time the uncle will come to the parlor where she normally sleep to have sex with her.
The situation grew beyond limit; the witness said the accused always had altercation with his wife for her sake and at times help her out with domestic chores. Due to the frequent confusions, my aunty had to leave for Tengbeh where she stayed with my father and step-mother at Kaningo Lumley. “On a fateful day I was in the bathroom with my step-mother, where she noticed that I have started having sex with someone as my appearance was unpleasant for her,” victim narrated.
The victim continued that her aunty told her that she will report the matter to her father. Later she did and her father asked her and she narrated all that had happened between her and the accused person. The victim said she was taken to 34 Military hospitals by his father and the nurses confirmed that she had started having sex.
Her dad later took her to the Family Support Unit (FSU) at Lumley Police Division, where she made statements and a police medical request form was issued for Princess Christian Maternity Hospital where she was examined again and the result showed that someone has inserted finger or penis into her vagina. After the examination at the PCHM they came back with the result at the FSU Lumley. And after which the matter was transferred for judicial hearing.
Under cross-examination by the defense lawyer for the accused person C.T.Young said the witness was questioned about what was unusual about her during her bath with her step-Mother, she replied that she was not on her menstrual period during that month.
The defense lawyer for the accused person argued that, by that time she had left the house of the accused person. The victim said yes. He further said do you remember when you and your aunty left the house of the accused person. She responded no. He asked the victim if she can remember speaking to any Dr. C. Cole on 27th August, 2019.
The victim said no she can’t recall. Defense lawyer asked victim if she has any closed relations with his father. She said yes. The defense continues to ask if she has trust in his father to protect her. Victim said yes.
Lawyer Young asked whether she was in constant communicating with her father. She answered yes. The defense lawyer again put it to the witness and you never told your father about the alleged incident. Victim says no.
The matter adjourned for 16th March, 2021 and bail continues.