An asylum seeker is set to stand trial for the alleged rape of a 15-year-old boy at an abandoned nightclub in Belfast, a judge ruled today.
Ziad Khawla, 25, is accused of assaulting the teenager after an unexpected encounter near the city center.
The Palestinian-born defendant appeared before Belfast Magistrates’ Court for a preliminary hearing to assess the strength of the prosecution's case.
He faces charges of rape and two counts of sexual assault in relation to the incident on March 2 last year.
The accused denies the allegations, claiming that the interaction was brief and initiated by the complainant.
Using an Arabic interpreter, he chose not to provide evidence or call witnesses at this stage of the proceedings.
He remains free on bail but is subject to strict conditions until his arraignment hearing.
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