evidence adduced by the prosecution, reliance on circumstantial evidence adduced by the victim’s family members and failure to prove the victim’s age beyond reasonable doubt; iv. The courts of the Respondent State failed to prove the case against him beyond reasonable doubt. III. SUMMARY OF THE PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT 7. The Application was filed before the Court on 28 November 2016 and served on the Respondent State. 8. At its 46th Ordinary Session,3 the Court considered the Applicant’s request for legal aid and granted him pro bono legal assistance from the Court’s Legal Aid Scheme and the Parties were accordingly notified of the Court’s decision on 2 May 2018. 9. The Parties filed their pleadings on the merits and reparations after several extensions of time granted by the Court. 10. Pleadings were closed on 16 November 2021 and the Parties were duly notified. IV. PRAYERS OF THE PARTIES 11. The Applicant prays the Court as follows with regard to jurisdiction, admissibility, merits and reparations: i. Declare that the Court has jurisdiction to hear the matter; ii. Declare this Application admissible; iii. Grant him free legal representation; iv. Find that his right to a fair trial was violated by the Respondent State; 3 The 46th Ordinary Session of the Court was held from 4th to 22nd September 2017. 4