Migrant Housing: Rape Trial of Sri Lankan Asylum Seeker

0:00On April 28th, a 21-year-old Sri Lankan asylum-seeker named Yashan Haimassara stands trial for kidnapping and raping a 15-year-old girl in. West London last fall. Prosecutors say he groomed her before assaulting her in his hotel room and tried smuggling her out of the UK toward mainland Europe. He was staying at a government-funded hotel and felt them used to house migrants. Over days and weeks, his behavior shifted from charming to threatening and violent, leading to the attacks. A concerned member of the public spotted the girl in a distraught state on the floor of a service station toilet in Kent and immediately called. Authorities. She was miles from home and opened up to police about the ordeal. Court heard details of earlier sexual touching on October 25th, then rape, strangulation, and beatings by October 31st in November. Second, Haimassara was arrested days later after her account. The trial kicked off at Ioworth Crown Court with an interpreter for him, and he denies all charges including rape, kidnapping, and multiple.

1:02Assults. As jurors hear more, this case highlights risks in migrant housing setups.