Rape in Phoebe Prince case upheld by judge despite lack of evidence

Read more: Bully writes ‘accomplished’ on Phoebe Prince’s Facebook page on day of death

A motion to dismiss charges against a 19 year old man accused of raping Phoebe Prince, the South Hadley High School school girl who took her life in January 2010, has been dismissed by a Massachusetts judge.

Austin Renaud, 19, is one of the six people charged in connection with Prince's death. On Monday Judge Mary-Lou Rup ruled that although there was limited evidence to suggest Renaud had sex with Prince it was enough to support an indictment.

Judge Rup denied a motion by Renaud's attorney to dismiss the charge on the grounds that prosecutors failed to provide admissible and credible evidence that the now 19-year-old Renaud had intercourse with Prince.

Renaud, who denies that he had sex with Prince, is facing the single charge of statutory rape, whilst five other teens have been charged with criminal harassment and civil rights violations.