https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/23932164.rape-trial-held-absence-accused-jafar-mohammed/
A MAN will be placed on trial is his absence later this year after leaving the country.
Jafar Mohammed, 33, has been accused of a rape in the centre of Warrington, on Buttermarket Street.
The incident took place on September 9, 2022, and led to Mohammed having been charged with five counts of sexual assault, and two counts of rape.
In a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, the Crown Prosecution Service applied to hold a trial in Mohammed’s absence.
The prosecution described how, on February 21, 2023, Mohammed attended a hearing at Warrington Magistrates Court. In this hearing he was released on conditional bail, and informed if he did not attend subsequent court dates – a warrant would be issued for his arrest.
This was the last time Jafar Mohammed appeared in court.
Earlier hearings indicated Mohammed’s family were in Germany.
The incident, which took place in September 2022, saw a woman sexually assaulted after a night out in Warrington. The complainant claims she met the defendant at a pub in Warrington, with him raping her later that night.
In his police interview, the defendant answered ‘no comment’ to all questions.
The prosecution submitted that, if the current trial date of December 11 were to be adjourned, it would be possible that another date is never set.
The judge decided to allow the prosecution to go ahead with the trial in the defendant’s absence.
Mohammed, who was staying at the Paddington House Hotel at the time of the incident, will not have a defence barrister for the case unless he attends.
