Rape survivor collapses in witness box at Pathanamthitta court during trial

PATHANAMTHITTA: Woman, who is a survivor of rape, collapsed in the witness box at Pathanamthitta Additional Sessions Court 1 during the trial of the case. The incident happened at 11.30 am yesterday. The 23-year-old collapsed while the court was listening to the audio recording of the accused apologizing to the woman over the phone after the abuse. Lawyers and court staff took the woman outside the court and gave her first aid.

The trial resumed after an hour and a half after the woman recovered her health.

The relevant incident took place on September 5, 2020. Accused Noufal, who was a driver, sexual assaulted the woman who was suffering from covid when she was being taken to the hospital in an ambulance from her relative's house. Eight sections of the law were charged against the accused, including the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.