Amon, the accused, has firmly stated he was unaware that the boy in question was only 13 years old. According to Amon, the dating platform required all users to certify they were over the age of 18, thus leading him to assume the boy was of legal age.

During the trial, Johnston, representing Amon, emphasized to the jury that the alleged victim never revealed his true age to Amon. “At no point in time did the alleged victim provide Mr. Amon with his real age,” Johnston asserted, reinforcing Amon’s claim of ignorance regarding the boy’s youth.

Furthermore, the defense argued that Amon held a genuine and reasonable belief that the individual was at least 16 years old. Johnston described this belief as embodying “an innocent state of mind,” suggesting that Amon had no intention of wrongdoing.

Contrastingly, the boy is expected to testify, claiming he mentioned being at least 15 years old. This discrepancy in their accounts presents a critical point for the jury to consider.

Adding to the complexity, Amon has contested the frequency of their encounters. He maintains that he only visited the apartment block once, contrary to allegations of multiple meetings, Johnston noted in his defense.

Amon also disputed meeting up with the teen twice, saying he only went to the apartment block on one occasion, Johnston said.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.