Acquittal secured for 71 year woman

Cyrus Shroff represented a woman who was in ill health and accused of aiding and abetting her husband (since deceased) to rape his cousin.

She was additionally charged with indecently assaulting the same complainant.

The prosecution originally sought to introduce evidence of the defendant’s husband’s alleged sexual behaviour towards the complainant during the years leading up to the events covered by the indictment. The bad character application was successfully argued against with the court ruling it inadmissible.

During the trial, the complainant stated that, following the death of her mother she was taken (from the funeral) to the defendant’s home. She was plied with alcohol, made to wear a transparent negligee and sexually abused in the marital bed by the defendant and her husband. This continued over the weekend (and sometime thereafter) with the defendant physically assaulting her at various times.

The defendant completely denied participating in any sexual abuse in her police interview and maintained this during the trial.

The jury returned unanimous not-guilty verdicts within 3 hours.

Cyrus Shroff specialises in serious cases of a violent or sexual nature and is instructed in cases of Murder & Manslaughter, Sexual Offences, Drug Offences, Serious Violence and Proceeds of Crime, amongst other criminal matters. Read more: [Cyrus Shroff Profile ]

He was instructed in this case by Seth Collins of Paul Robinson Solicitors.