Witness could not even look at face of friend's alleged attacker, Old Bailey hears (From Oxford Mail)

Witness could not even look at face of friend's alleged attacker, Old Bailey hears

10:20am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News By Ben Wilkinson, Crime Reporter. Call me on (01865) 425427

A YOUNG woman taking part in an identification procedure could not look at the face of a man accused of raping and prostituting her friend, the Old Bailey heard yesterday afternoon.

The 21-year-old gave evidence in the Oxford child exploitation trial last month.

She knew the complainant known as Girl 4 who claims she was raped and prostituted by Mohammed Karrar from the age of 11.

Identification officer Richard Bull said the young woman was shown a film of nine faces and had to pick out the men she knew.

But he said she reacted when Karrar's face appeared on the screen.

He said: "She was extremely reluctant to maintain eye contact with the screen while his image was on it.

"She didn't want to carry on looking at the film."

The nine defendants deny all charges against them. The trial continues.