Rape accused acquitted

The man of Lendore Village, Chaguanas, was before Justice Hayden St Clair Douglas charged with having sex with a minor under the age of 14 .

The incident allegedly took place at his home on October 20, 2006 when he was 17 and the girl was 13 .

After deliberating for almost four hours on Friday, the jury returned with seven jurors voting in favour of acquittal while two found him guilty .

The alleged victim claimed that she was invited over by the accused who then raped her. She did not report the incident to her family or police until February 2007 after she realised she was pregnant .

The State presented DNA evidence which proved the man was the father of her child .

The man’s lawyers Sean Cazabon and Shane Kingston challenged the alleged victim’s claims that she was attacked by him .

In his defence, he admitted having sex with the girl but said they were in a relationship and he believed she was older since she told him she was 16 .

The case was prosecuted by Trevor Jones.