Worcester girl testifies against man accused of kidnapping her, throwing her off bridge

"A girl allegedly raped, strangled, and thrown off a bridge to die by a Worcester man took the stand during the man's trial Monday, eight years after the alleged kidnapping. Joshua Hubert is facing two counts of attempted murder along with charges of strangulation or suffocation, child kidnapping, aggravated rape of a child with force, and aggravated rape of a child, five-year age difference, according to the Worcester County District Attorney's Office."

"Prosecutors allege that in 2017, Hubert kidnapped the child, then 7 years old, from her grandparents' house in Worcester. He allegedly choked her with his hands, raped her, and placed a bag over her head and secured it with rope, according to court documents. Hubert, a family friend, then allegedly stopped on a I-290 bridge in Shrewsbury and threw her into Lake Quinsigamond. The child, now 15, swam about 100 yards to shore and knocked on the door of a waterfront home at 4 a.m."

"Hubert's trial has been repeatedly delayed since 2020. Prosecutors began Monday with opening statements, MassLive reported. Court TV's request to air the trial was denied, according to court records. "Mr. Hubert has been waiting eight long years for his day in court," his lawyer, Kevin Larson, told Boston.com. "We are looking forward to the truth finally coming out, and we fully expect an acquittal on all counts after the jury hears the facts in this case.""

In 2017 a then-7-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped from her grandparents' house in Worcester by family friend Joshua Hubert. He is accused of choking the child, raping her, placing a bag over her head secured with rope, and throwing her from an I-290 bridge into Lake Quinsigamond. The child swam roughly 100 yards to shore and knocked on a waterfront door at about 4 a.m.; she is now 15. Hubert faces counts including attempted murder, strangulation or suffocation, child kidnapping, and aggravated rape with a five-year age difference. Hubert pleads not guilty; his trial has been delayed since 2020.

Read at Boston.com