Coen Jackson freed of sexual activity with child charges after complainant refuse to testify
The law firm, Hughes Fields & Stoby has informed that its client Coen Jackson has been acquitted of the remaining three charges of sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 by abusing a position of trust after the female complainant opted not to pursue the matters.
In a statement issued on Friday, the firm said, “On Friday the 3rd March 2023, the remaining criminal charges of sexual activity with a child of the age of 16 years by abusing a position of trust contrary to the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act, were dismissed when the jury was directed by Justice Priya Beharry-Sewnarine to return a verdict of not guilty…”
According to Jackson’s lawyers, the direction followed the testimony of the complainant who informed the Court that she was withdrawing the allegations and no longer pursuing them.
This follows Jackson’s earlier trial in 2022 when he was found not guilty by the jury on a similar charge. Then, he also faced three other similar charges; but the jury was unable to arrive at a verdict on each of the three counts. As such, a mistrial was declared and Jackson remained out on cash bail pending a new trial to be scheduled by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Jackson’s lawyers shared that their client would like to express heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to those members of the staff and students of the aforesaid school, the Education Ministry, members of the public, and well-wishers who stood by him during this difficult time.
“Jackson is relieved that his position has been vindicated,” the press statement added. The complainant in the case was one of his former students. The charges against him stated that he committed the offences on four occasions in February, March, April, and May of 2011.
Jackson, 43, was a former teacher at The Bishops’ High School.
“Jackson had in an earlier civil suit secured an award of damages in the sum of $5,000,000 for defamation of character against [Guyanese author] Ruel Johnson who had accused Jackson of preying on the virtual complainant while she was a student,” the release noted.
Jackson was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes, Jerome Khan, Savannah Barnwell, and Sophia Findlay. The prosecutors were Attorneys-at-Law Simran Gajraj, Latifah Elliot, and Rbina Christmas. The matters were heard at the Sexual Offences Court in Demerara.
The facts of the matter as disclosed by the prosecution stated that Jackson allegedly began communicating privately with the girl while she was his student in December 2010.
The prosecution had contended that he invited her over to his home several times and had her watching pornographic movies. He eventually sexually abused the girl, the prosecution alleged.
The prosecution further contended that all of this took place before the student wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
The prosecution had submitted that these events only came to light in 2016 after the student became involved in a relationship with a man who caused her to realise that what had happened to her was wrong and that she was being abused by her teacher.
