Akim Swedru, May 18, GNA - The Akim Swedru Circuit Court on Tuesday acquitted and discharged a 20-year-old farmer who was facing a defilement charge for lack of evidence.

The accused, Man Kwadwo, had earlier pleaded not guilty to a charge of defiling a girl of 13 years.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Kofi Boakye had told the court, presided over by Mr George Kingsley Koomson, that on February 21, this year, Kwadwo forcibly had sex with the girl in a bush at Akim Adubiase in the Birim North District, after the girl had approached him to help her secure a rope to tie firewood.

In discharging the accused, Mr Koomson explained that in a defilement case, the prosecution must prove the age of the victim.