A GIRL, said to be the victim of a sexual assault, fainted and collapsed outside the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's court yesterday after her mother was arrested by police for disorderly conduct.

The minor laid at the steps of the courthouse under the pelting midday sun while her mother, in handcuffs, begged for someone to assist her.

The mother had exited the courthouse shouting "the blood of Jesus", as she expressed her disgust for the justice system and what she said was an attempt to protect a man accused of raping her daughter. She was soon joined by another woman in her chorus.

A policeman at the entrance to the courthouse warned the woman that she could be charged for disorderly conduct but she ignored the warning.

collapsed

The police later returned with handcuffs and slapped them on to the woman's wrists, advising her that she was being arrested. He also arrested the other woman.

On seeing her mother being hauled away, the minor, almost in slow motion, collapsed to the asphalt, a fall which saved her mother the indignity of jail, as the police later released her after about 10 minutes of begging and pleading.