The jury of six men and six women deliberated for two and a half hours before finding 50-year-old Benjamin Quansah not guilty on nine charges including of one count of rape, one count of detaining a person against their will and seven counts of indecent assault.

Mr Quansah remained silent as the jury handed down the individual verdicts, leaving the court soon after judgment with his wife Grace Quansah and defence counsel Steven Anger.

The defence argued the allegations against Mr Quansah simply did not happen and the then 17-year-old complainant had never been at his house.

However, the prosecution alleged Mr Quansah took the girl to his house on the pretence of buying her cigarettes and where he indecently assaulted the girl before removing his and her clothing and showering together.

It was in the shower that the charge of digital rape was alleged.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Saturday’s Sunraysia Daily, 31/10/09.