Seven Afghan refugees are to stand trial next year accused of 32 offences of raping two girls in Norwich, after appearing in court amid heightened security and tense scenes.
The defendants - who appeared in the dock and spoke through interpreters - all denied 38 offences against the girls, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said to have taken place between August 2023 and May 2025.
That thing they tell us never happens appears to have happened again!
Judge Katharine Moore (Ed: oh )said the trial, due to start on January 11, would be in front of a High Court Judge.
Hopefully not a female member drawn from the lanyard classes!
The court heard from prosecutor Felicia Davy KC that an eighth suspect is currently in the Republic of Ireland awaiting extradition to the UK when it is likely he will also be charged with related offences.
Appearing in court on Friday were:
Jamil Khalil, 20, of High Street, Dumbarton, Scotland, represented by Will Carter, charged with seven counts of rape and one count of human trafficking. He is also jointly charged with one offence of conspiracy to rape.
Ahmadin Ahmadzai, 21, of Pottergate, Norwich, represented by Andrew Oliver, charged with nine counts of rape, one count of human trafficking, two counts of conspiracy to rape, and one count of doing an act to pervert the course of justice.
Qais Kaker, 20, of Black Horse Opening, Norwich, represented by Ed Renvoize, charged with four counts of rape, one count of conspiracy to rape and one count of human trafficking.
Fazal Auryakhel, 20, of Eleanor Road, Norwich, represented by John Morgans, charged with one count of rape.
Mohammed Farooq Sinwary, 20, of St Benedicts Street, Norwich, represented by Stephen Spence, charged with two counts of rape.
Ali Ahamad, 21, of Barnards Yard, Norwich, represented by Oliver Haswell, charged with one count of rape and three counts of human trafficking.
Sayed Wahid Daviodzai, 20, of St Benedicts Street, Norwich, represented by Ian James, charged with four counts of rape and one count of conspiracy to rape.
That’s a lot of men with no English who’ve spent a long time in this country. Why?
The press bench in Court One was also packed with two journalists from the BBC's Pashto service, Al Hussaini and Nadeem Ashraf, joining local BBC colleagues as well as ITV reporters.
Of course we should expect it…
Norfolk Constabulary has confirmed that none of the suspects had lived in asylum hotels in the county and that none of the alleged offences took place at those locations.They have been in the country for between three and six years and the alleged offences are said to have occurred between August 2023 and May 2025.
And that makes it better does it?
H/T: Dave Ward via email
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