Victim testimony can sustain sexual assault conviction without corroboration; sentence may still be moderated on overall circumstances.

The testimony of a victim of sexual assault is entitled to great weight and may sustain a conviction without independent corroboration when it is natural, consistent, and supported by surrounding probabilities or medical evidence. Minor discrepancies that do not go to the root of the case do not, by themselves, undermine otherwise trustworthy evidence. The concurrent findings of guilt were found supportable on the evidence, so the conviction was maintained; only the sentence for attempt to commit rape was reduced, having regard to the lapse of time, loss of employment, and the overall circumstances.

---

---

Issues: (i) Whether the testimony of a victim of sexual assault requires corroboration as a rule before conviction can be sustained. (ii) Whether the conviction and sentence for the offences proved called for interference.

Issue (i): Whether the testimony of a victim of sexual assault requires corroboration as a rule before conviction can be sustained.

Analysis: The evidence of a victim of sexual assault is entitled to great weight and stands on par with that of an injured witness. Corroboration is not a sine qua non for conviction. Minor discrepancies not going to the root of the matter do not discredit otherwise trustworthy testimony, and corroboration should not be insisted upon as a general rule where the evidence is natural, consistent, and supported by surrounding probabilities and, where available, medical evidence.

Conclusion: Corroboration was not as a matter of law on the facts proved, and the victim's testimony was sufficient to sustain the finding of guilt.

Issue (ii): Whether the conviction and sentence for the offences proved called for interference.

Analysis: The concurrent findings of fact were supported by evidence and were not shown to be perverse or based on inadmissible material. The conviction under the relevant offences was therefore maintained, but the sentence for attempt to commit rape was moderated having regard to the lapse of time, the appellant's loss of employment, and the overall circumstances.

Conclusion: The conviction was upheld, the sentence for the offence under section 376 read with section 511 was reduced, and the remaining sentences were left undisturbed.

Final Conclusion: The appeal succeeded only to the limited extent of reduction in sentence, while the findings of guilt and the other punishments remained in force.

Ratio Decidendi: In a rape or sexual assault prosecution, the unshaken testimony of the victim can sustain conviction without independent corroboration, unless the evidence suffers from a basic infirmity or the surrounding probabilities render it unworthy of credence.

---