Waterford rape trial reaches final stages
The trial of a Waterford chef accused of raping a then 15-year-old waitress at the Waterford rugby grounds over two years ago, has reached its final stages at the Central Criminal Court.
The 42-year-old accused has pleaded not guilty to one charge each of buggery, oral rape and sexual assault on the girl at the Waterford rugby grounds on September 3, 2000.
The now 18-year-old girl told the jury of five men and seven women that she had been working with the accused in the same restaurant for almost a year when the alleged incident occurred.
He offered her a lift home after work on the evening of September 3, 2000 and instead of driving her home, had taken her to the rugby grounds where he allegedly raped and sexually asaulted her.
Both prosecuting and defence counsel made their closing statements to the jury today and the jury is scheduled to begin its deliberations after being charged by the trial judge, Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan, tomorrow.
