WL, R v

[2] On 18 November 2015 the applicant was convicted of 8 counts of indecent assault on a female contrary to Section 52 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 and 8 counts of rape, contrary to common law. The applicant was arraigned on 5�November 2015 and pleaded not guilty to all counts. After a trial running from 5�November to 18 November 2015, the jury found the applicant guilty of all the offences. All the verdicts were unanimous, save for two of the indecent assault charges which were majority verdicts of 10-2 and 11-1.

[3] The applicant was sentenced on 29 April 2016. Her Honour Judge Smyth imposed a mixture of concurrent and consecutive sentences for the indecent assault charges totalling 6� years. She imposed life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of 10 years for the rape charges, which was to run concurrently with the sentences for the indecent assaults.

[4] The applicant was represented by Mr Greene QC and Mr Barlow of counsel. The Crown was represented by Mr Rick Weir QC and Ms Fiona O'Kane of counsel. We are grateful to all counsel for their detailed skeleton arguments and submissions which were of assistance to the court.

[5] The applicant was the eldest sibling in the family. The complainant, his sister, was the youngest. The offences allegedly occurred in the family home when the complainant was aged from 5-18 years and the applicant was aged 13� - 26� years.

[6] The offences relate to a litany of sexual assaults said to have been committed by the applicant between 1978 and 1991. The indictment comprises 16 counts which includes 10 specific counts and 6 specimen counts. The allegations involved digital penetration of the vagina, penetration by a doll, oral sex and a series of rapes. The assaults were accompanied by threats and violence.