There was much discussion in the public gallery at the Imoru Ziblim Circuit Court in Accra on Tuesday when a fourteen-year old school girl started crying after nineteen-year-old Jerry Ankrah was remanded in prison custody for allegedly raping her.

The public gallery at the court wondered whether they were tears of joy or sadness and there was much speculation over the cause.

Prosecuting the case, Inspector Emmanuel T. Boison told the court that in the early part of January this year, the victim left her home without informing her parents. Her mother, who mounted a search, found her in the room of the accused person at Labadi.

Inspector Boison said the accused lured the unsuspecting lady into his room and had sexual affairs with her without her consent. A report was lodged and the accused was apprehended and sent to WAJU for action to be taken against him.

The accused pleaded guilty to the offence but maintained that the victim was his girl friend and that he did not rape her but had a relationship with her.

The accused has been remanded in prison custody to reappear on February 26, 2002.