Freedom for husband of 'child bride'

A court in Kahramanmaras, south-east Turkey, yesterday freed the husband of the 13-year-old British girl Sarah Cook and adjourned his trial for statutory rape.

Musa Komeagac's lawyers said they had presented the court with a report testifying that Sarah's physique was that of a 16-year-old, and that he did not know she was under age. Komeagac will appear in court again on 18 April. Newspapers and television channels reported that a Turkish director was planning to make a film of the couple's story, and that Komeagac was demanding a fee of about pounds 300,000 for playing the male lead.