Long wait for justice for Seville man accused of rape

A MAN, 28, accused of rape in 2005 has been acquitted by Sevilla Provincial Court.

He was arrested after a girl, 15, from his group of friends, accused him of rape in Utrera, Sevilla.

She claimed she was a virgin, but medical reports refuted this and no internal evidence of rape was found. There was also no bruising on her inner thighs, typical in rape cases.

He spent six days in prison, and although he was released, he has had to appear in court every fortnight, and was unable to join the army or accept work outside Spain.

The Public Prosecutor was asking for nine years in prison, but he has now been acquitted and the decision has not been appealed by the accusation. The restraining order against him has been cancelled.

A case will now be opened against the alleged victim to determine whether she made a false report and he intends to appear in court against her.

According to the man, she wanted to go out with him, but he refused her because he was with another woman who he later married and with whom he has three children.

He claims she said ‘if you’re not going to be with me, you won’t be with anyone else,’ and later reported he had raped her.