The trial in the case of rape of two minor girls at the Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) home at Pollachi on June 11 began at the Mahila Court here on Wednesday. But the hearing could not be continued for long as one of victims broke down.
Charges were framed against the accused, Veeran alias Veerasamy, 23, of Valparai, at the Mahila Court on August 7. He refused to accept the charges, after which the first date for hearing was fixed for August 13 and then August 20. But the trial could not begin owing to a court boycott protest by advocates.
Nine witnesses were brought for the trial on Wednesday. It included the two victims — aged 10 and 11 — and five other children who were inmates of the home. The two other witnesses were warden-cum-manager of the hostel A. Rajendran and assistant warden E.B. Suresh.
“Two-and-a-half-months after the incident, one of the victims is yet to come out of the trauma. The 11-year-old girl, who was heard first, answered basic questions such as her whereabouts and where she was studying. On seeing the accused in the court, she said she knew him,” Public Prosecutor P. Sarojini told The Hindu .
The victim started crying when asked about the incident.
“The court waited for about 20 minutes for her to stop crying and to give her statement, but in vain,” Ms. Sarojini said.
Mahila Court Judge M.P. Subramanian posted the trial to September 5.
“The eight other witnesses could not be heard on Wednesday as the two victims had to be heard first,” Ms. Sarojini said.
The accused was taken back to the Coimbatore Central Prison.
