Teen Trial: Rape Allegations in Manchester

0:00On March 11th, a trial was underway in Manchester for three teenage boys accused of raping a 13-year-old girl near the new bull tram stop in. Rochdale back in February, 2024. The boys were 12, 13, and 14 at the time, and they all deny the charges of multiple counts of rape, including some as joint, enterprise. Prosecutors say the boys took turns during the attack off a nearby footpath, and part of it was filmed on a phone and shared among friends. Two of the boys, now 15 and 16, are on trial and mental street crown court, while the third, now 14, has been ruled unfit to plead. The now 15-year-old boy took the stand and claimed the girl looked older, around 15 or 16, based on how she dressed and acted. He said she seemed interested and comfortable when he put his arm around her at the tram stop. In his testimony, the boy described going into bushes with the group, insisting it was consensual and that she went first. He admitted filming a short clip and sharing it, but said he didn't think anything was wrong at the time.

1:01The case continues as the jury weighs the evidence, with the defense pushing back on the prosecution's account of non-consensual acts.