Three boys accused of raping a girl in bushes when they were 12, 13, and 14 have been acquitted of all charges today. At Minshull Street Crown Court, the boys refuted allegations of taking turns and changing positions during the incident, which was purportedly recorded on a mobile phone.
The trio, whose identities are protected by law, were cleared of the charges at the trial. Two of the youths, now aged 15 and 16, stood trial at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, while the third, who was 12 at the time and is now 14, was deemed unfit to stand trial.
The boys denied the accusations, claiming the encounter was consensual. Following a two-week trial, the now 16-year-old and the now 15-year-old were found not guilty of three counts of rape.
Jurors deliberated on whether the 14-year-old, previously deemed unfit for trial, had committed the acts or encouraged the others. The verdict confirmed that he had not committed the offenses, according to the Manchester Evening News.
The victim, a teenage girl whose identity remains confidential, was allegedly assaulted near Newbold tram stop in Rochdale in February 2024. Prosecutors described how she was physically forced and assaulted, with the boys allegedly swapping positions during the incident.
The boys were captured on CCTV in Rochdale town center before heading to Rochdale tram station prior to the assault. The prosecution contended that the boys interacted with the girls on the tram and then forcibly pushed the victim into the bushes off a pathway near the tram stop.
During the trial, the boys maintained that the encounter was consensual, with one stating that the girl had expressed interest in him and willingly engaged in intimate acts. The defense argued that the girl’s behavior, including flirting on the tram, indicated consent.
After nearly 10 hours of deliberation, the jury unanimously acquitted all three boys of the charges.