This article contains graphic details that some readers might find disturbing

Jurors have acquitted a man accused of raping and sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl.

After a unanimous 9-0 verdict, the accused was found not guilty of all three charges against him.

The case concerns two alleged incidents dating back to 2018 and 2019, when the girl was 13.

The accused faces three charges: aggravated rape, corrupting a person under the age of 16, and participating in sexual activities with a person under 16.

During the trial, the alleged victim, now 21, testified via videoconference and told jurors she had become friends with the accused's daughter through gymnastics and would sometimes sleep over at the family home.

She said the first alleged assault took place at the family residence in around October 2018. According to her testimony, the accused called her into a bedroom and sexually assaulted her.

The woman told jurors she covered her eyes and "froze", saying she understood she was being assaulted but was in shock and did not know how to react.

The witness said she did not tell anyone at the time and continued spending time with the family.

The second alleged assault took place on June 28, 2019, during a weekend trip on the accused's boat.

The woman told the court she was left alone with the accused, who called her into the cabin on the pretext of showing her a newly installed bed.

She alleged that he sexually assaulted her and attempted to penetrate her. This time, she said, she pushed him away with her legs and told him she was about to turn 14 and did not want what was happening.

The witness said she then grabbed her belongings, jumped off the boat and swam for several minutes until she reached the shore.

She later disclosed the alleged assault to her younger sister and then to her mother, who took her to a health centre before she was referred to Mater Dei Hospital.

During cross-examination, the defence questioned the woman over differences between her evidence in court and earlier accounts concerning the circumstances and timing of the alleged incidents.

She repeatedly referred to the fact that years had passed since the incident and said she had tried to suppress the memory of the first alleged assault.

The accused was represented by lawyers Mario Mifsud and Nicholas Mifsud.

Judge Consuelo Scerri Herrera is presiding over the trial.