Suspect accused of attacking Columbus State student inside parking garage appears in court

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — A suspect who is accused of attacking a Columbus State University student inside a parking garage on Friday made his first court appearance.

Initially, the university reported that the suspect was in custody after they attacked the student inside a parking deck that’s located downtown.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Columbus State University student assaulted in parking deck near dorms

The parking deck reportedly serves the downtown River Park campus dorms. The deck is located in the 1000 block of Front Avenue.

CSU police says the suspect who has been identified as 20-year-old Hosni Batebawai fled the scene following the incident but was eventually apprehended by Columbus police.

Columbus police and Phenix City police assisted the CSU police department in the case.

Batebawai was in Recorder’s Court on Monday and currently faces charges of rape, aggravated sexual assault, battery, aggravated assault, and hijacking of a motor vehicle.

Batebawai’s hearing was postponed because the victim failed to receive notification about the hearing.