25/08/2006

Brothers remanded over rape charge

Two Lithuanian brothers have appeared before Armagh Magistrates Court charged with the abduction and rape of a woman.

Saulius Petraitis, 22, and his brother Vitalijus, 20, of Nursery Mews, in Armagh, faced a total of 10 charges.

The older man faced two charges of rape as well as assault and false imprisonment, abduction for the purposes of carnal knowledge, a further attempted serious sexual offence and possession of a .22 rifle.

The younger brother faced one charge of rape together with a charge of committing a serious sexual offence, assault and false imprisonment and possession of a firearm.

The victim is alleged to have suffered a 28-hour ordeal at the hands of six men over the weekend of August 12 and 13.

It is understood that when arrested, neither of the men replied, however a police witness said that he

believed he could connect them with the charges.

It is understood that police are currently searching for four other men, two of which are believed to be in custody in the Republic of Ireland.

The officer added: "The ordeal that the injured party suffered was carried out over a protracted period with these defendants and also four others."

The men were remanded in custody to appear at the same court via videolink on September 12.

(EF)

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