Penal man freed of incest charges

A 40-YEAR-OLD father of four who testified that his daughter brought a charge of incest against him as revenge for his strictness, was found not guilty of the offence by a jury in the San Fernando High Court yesterday. The Penal man walked out of the Third Criminal Assizes in tears yesterday after he was freed by Justice Devan Rampersad. The nine-member mixed jury deliberated for less than an hour on the first count of incest, which allegedly occurred between January 1, 2000 and August 31, 2000. The other instance allegedly occurred between November 1, 2000 and December 31, 2000. The jury was directed by Justice Rampersad to deliver a formal verdict of not guilty on a third count.

The State’s case, as led by attorney Angelica Teelucksingh, alleged that the incidents occurred at the accused’s home while the accused, a part-time construction worker, was alone with his 12-year-old daughter. The alleged victim testified that her mother was at work and her other siblings were not at home when her father had sex with her in his bedroom. The girl told the mixed jury that he had sex with her three times per week. The victim said she told her mother about the incidents two years later. A report was made to the Siparia CID with  WPC Brenda Lumpriss investigating and laying charges against the accused. The accused described himself to the jury as a strict father and denied committing the offences.