A 10-years-imprisonment sentence to deter others from "the heinous crime of rape" was imposed on a 44-year-old man from Ha'ateiho for raping and indecently assaulting a 19-year-old girl, who was a close relative.

'Uha'one 'Aisea appeared for sentencing before Justice Robert Shuster this morning Wednesday, September 14 at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.

'Aisea pleaded not guilty on both counts and a jury trial from August 9-11 at the Supreme Court found him guilty on both counts of indecent assault and rape.

Justice Shuster initially sentenced the convicted offender to 13 years imprisonment. But he suspended the last three years of his sentence because he had accepted the jury's guilty verdict and was a first time offender.

He serves his 10 years imprisonment effective today but backdated to when he was held in custody on August 11.

"Rape is a heinous crime," Justice Schuster said. He stressed that because the victim was a close relative to the offender what he did to her was a clear breach of trust. And he again victimized her by bringing her to court in which she had to give evidence, he added.

Justice Shuster pointed out there are two victims in this case, which is both the victim and the offender's wife, and also his children.

Lured

At the jury trial in August, Crown Prosecutor Sione Sisifa told the court that on Sunday afternoon of April 18 2010, the offender invited the victim to join him and his family on a family outing.

He went and picked her up from her home at Folaha and told her that they were to go and pick up his family for the outing and the victim agreed and got into the vehicle.

However, he instead took her to Hufangalupe beachfront at Vaini and forcefully committed the offences on her.

The offender who was represented by counsel 'Ofa Pouno in his defence told the court that the victim was willing. But at the end of the three-day trial the jury disagreed and found him guilty on both counts of indecent assault and rape.