It's an accusation that shocked even seasoned court observers as a 15-year-old girl was today arraigned on a charge of abetment to rape.
The charge arises after a 13 year old Hattieville resident reported that on May 15th the 15 year old tricked her into going into a house, supposedly to get a videocassette. That's where 29 year old Mark Neal enters the picture. Allegedly through pre-arrangement with the 15 year old, he is claimed to have followed them inside and that's where the 15 year old began taking off the 13 year old's clothes, and then allegedly held her down while Neal raped her.
Today in court, Mark Neal was also arraigned on two charges of rape; two charges because the 13 year old claims that he also raped her on May 1st, that time allegedly without his 15 year old abettor.
Neal's attorney Lutchman Sooknandan told the court that he needed bail because he has three children to support. He was granted bail but was further detained by the police. His alleged 15-year-old abettor, was also bailed for $3,000 which she met. The offences against both of them are Indictable, meaning that if they get to that stage, they would be heard at the Supreme Court.