WORCESTER, Mass. —

Jurors are deliberating in the trial of a Worcester man accused of raping a child before strangling her and throwing her off a bridge in 2017.

The child survived the assault and the suspect, Joshua Hubert, faces charges including rape of a child, attempted murder, kidnapping and strangulation.

Prosecutors had previously said that Hubert was a friend of members of the 7-year-old's family and attended a cookout with them on Aug. 26, 2017.

Video below: 2017 report about allegations

According to prosecutors , Hubert put the girl in his car during the early morning hours of Aug. 27, 2017, strangled her and threw her off the Interstate 290 bridge over Lake Quinsigamond.

The girl, who is now 15, survived the fall into the lake below, swam to shore and sought help at a

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