Wari schoolgirl rape-murder: Verdict due on March 9

A Dhaka court has set March 9 for delivery of verdict in the case over rape and murder of schoolgirl Samia Afrin Saima.

The lone accused, Harun Or Rashid, was present in the dock when Judge Kazi Abdul Hannan of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-1 announced the date this noon.

Last July, Saima, a nursery student of Silverdale Preparatory and Girls' High School, was raped and murdered in the building she used to live in with her family, at Dhaka's Wari. 

Victim's father, Abdus Salam, filed the case with Wari Police Station, a day after the incident.

Detectives picked up Harun on July 17 from his village home in Cumilla's Dabordanga. Harun confessed that he strangled the six-year-old to death after raping her.

Inspector Md Arjun of the Detective Branch of police submitted charge-sheet to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court in November.

On January 2, the court framed charges against 26-year old Harun. Statements of 14 out of 17 prosecution witnesses have been recorded so far.