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An asylum seeker is to stand trial charged with raping a 15-year-old boy at a derelict nightclub in Belfast, a judge ordered today.
An asylum seeker is to stand trial charged with raping a 15-year-old boy at a derelict nightclub in Belfast, a judge ordered today.
Ziad Khawla, 25, is accused of attacking the youth following a chance encounter close to the city centre.
The Palestinian-born defendant appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court for a preliminary enquiry into the strength of the prosecution case.
He is charged with rape and two counts of sexual assault over the incident on March 2 last year….
The accused denies the charges, insisting any interaction was only brief and was initiated by the complainant….
Using an Arabic interpreter, he declined to give evidence or call any witnesses at this stage in proceedings….
He remains out on bail but is under strict conditions pending his arraignment hearing….
An asylum seeker is to stand trial charged with raping a 15-year-old boy at a derelict nightclub in Belfast, a judge ordered today.
Ziad Khawla, 25, is accused of attacking the youth following a chance encounter close to the city centre.
The Palestinian-born defendant appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court for a preliminary enquiry into the strength of the prosecution case.
He is charged with rape and two counts of sexual assault over the incident on March 2 last year….
The accused denies the charges, insisting any interaction was only brief and was initiated by the complainant….
Using an Arabic interpreter, he declined to give evidence or call any witnesses at this stage in proceedings….
He remains out on bail but is under strict conditions pending his arraignment hearing….
