Defense Lawyer: Victim Couldn't Identify Attacker

The defense lawyer for a man accused of forcibly raping a 15-year-old girl called into question the victim's ability to identify her alleged attacker.

Nathan Williams, 19, who is listed as homeless with a last known address in Framingham, is charged with rape of a child with force after certain offenses (two counts), kidnapping and indecent assault and battery on a person over 14. The charges stemmed from a reported assault of a 15-year-old girl after she got off a school bus April 3. Williams' lawyer, John Daly, was in Framingham District Court for a hearing Wednesday; Williams, who is in custody, was not present.

According to Katelyn Draper, the prosecuting attorney from the Middlesex District Attorney’s office, the victim was shown a photo array after reporting the sexual assault, but was unable to identify the man that police arrested. 

Draper, when questioned by Judge Douglas Stoddart, said an eyewitness who reportedly saw a man acting suspiciously before the attack was also unable to identify Williams.

A DNA profile collected from the alleged victim matched a DNA profile taken from a woman in March who went to the Framingham Police Department to tell them Williams attacked her at his house, Draper said. There have been no charges filed in connection with the March incident, prosecutors noted.

While the two DNA profiles appeared to be a match, Defense Attorney Daly suggested that didn’t mean the DNA matched Williams', who has yet to have a DNA sample taken.

A probable cause hearing is scheduled for May 16.