RAPE: A second test to re-examine the mental state of the police constable, who is accused of attempted rape, was conducted yesterday at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck national referral hospital.  The results are expected soon.

The defense’s lawyer at the first hearing requested for another test, as his client, the constable, was not satisfied with the police’s test, which had found him to be in a stable condition.  He also said that his client had a history of abnormal behaviour in the past few months.

The bench IV court on January 19 granted the accused a re-test.

During the evidence hearing presented by the prosecutor from the office of the attorney general’s office yesterday, the defense lawyer requested the court to serve his client with a minimal sentence.

Presenting the records of the constable, the prosecutor said, the accused had no record of mental instability and criminal record during his service. “He was a hard working person,” the prosecutor said.  The record is based on an individual’s annual work assessment, which is recommended by an officer in command.

The prosecutor submitted the chronology of the case, along with a summary of the statements, submitted by the accused, the victim and witnesses in the case.

The prosecutor requested the court to serve the accused, as per law, because the way he had tried to run from the scene, when others saw him committing the crime, itself proved that he had committed the crime intentionally.

The clothes worn by the victim during the crime were also brought in the courtroom.  Rebuttal to the evidence hearing will be made on January 28.

The police constable was accused of attempted rape and murder of a 20-year old woman in Thimphu on December 1.  He was denied bail.

By Tashi Tenzin

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