Two Men on Trial for Sexual Assault of Autistic Teenager on London Train

Two men face 20 charges following alleged sexual assault of autistic teenager on commuter train

Two Afghan migrants are appearing in court facing a total of 20 charges related to the alleged rape and sexual assault of a 14-year-old autistic girl on a busy Southeastern train service. According to reporting from The Irish Sun, the incident occurred on a London-bound service traveling from a rural station in Kent toward London Bridge on February 5.

The defendants, identified as Baryalai Rahimi, 25, of Southall, west London, and Mirebadurahman Sadat, 29, of Cricklewood, northwest London, deny the charges. The trial at Inner London Crown Court is expected to continue for three weeks.

CCTV footage reveals sequence of alleged abuse

Evidence presented to jurors included CCTV footage that depicts the movements of the two men and the teenager during the mid-afternoon journey. The Daily Mail reported that the footage shows the girl sitting on Rahimi’s lap while he appeared to touch her chest area. This interaction occurred just before a ticket inspector walked through the carriage, though Rahimi allegedly continued to hug and kiss the youngster.

Crown prosecutor richard latham qc walks

Prosecutor Richard Witcombe told the court that the men appeared to communicate via telephone while seemingly each holding an object. The prosecution alleges that Rahimi led the girl toward the train’s toilet cubicle, brushing past passengers who had recently boarded the service. The Irish Sun reported that prosecutors allege Rahimi raped the girl twice inside the cubicle, while The Daily Mail stated that jurors heard Rahimi may have raped the girl three times in the toilets.

The prosecution’s case suggests a coordinated effort between the two men. Mr. Witcombe told jurors the footage made it appear “almost as if Mr. Rahimi was handing over the girl to Mr. Sadat.” Following the alleged incidents in the cubicle, the men reportedly exited the toilets in a staggered order and exchanged words before swapping seats. The Daily Mail noted that Sadat then sat on the aisle next to the girl, who was positioned by the window.

DNA evidence and the victim’s account

The girl, who had been reported missing earlier that day after running away from home, provided testimony regarding the control the men exerted over her. She told officers, “I was scared of him, he was in control of me,” and told police, “He done front sex with me,” per The Irish Sun.

Forensic evidence was also central to the proceedings. DNA matching Rahimi was found on the floor of the train toilet and in the girl’s underwear, according to The Irish Sun. The Daily Mail added that DNA matching Rahimi was also found in the girl’s clothing.

The movement of the suspects continued even after the initial alleged assaults. After the pair left the train at London Bridge, footage showed them following the girl. The Daily Mail reported that Sadat then boarded another packed commuter service with her, heading toward Peterborough shortly after 4:00 p.m. The teenager was eventually located by police at Peterborough Station just before 11:00 p.m. and was returned home.

The specific charges and defense positions

The legal proceedings involve a wide range of allegations against both men. While the two deny a total of 20 charges, the specific counts vary by defendant:

Taylor man charged with sexually assaulting autistic teen

Defendant	Alleged Offenses (per court reports)
Baryalai Rahimi	Three counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, one count of assault by penetration, and six alternative counts of sexual activity with a child.
Mirebadurahman Sadat	Two counts of assault by penetration, two counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and four alternative counts of sexual activity with a child.

During the court appearance, the men appeared in the dock wearing green and grey prison-issue jumpers, assisted by Dari and Farsi interpreters, as reported by The Daily Mail.

The trial remains ongoing as jurors evaluate the CCTV evidence, forensic findings, and the testimony regarding the events that took place on the Southeastern service.

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