BV man found not guilty on child rape charge

A Demerara Sexual Offences Court jury has found a Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man not guilty of engaging in sexual penetration with a girl, 15, following a trial on Wednesday.

Shaquille Fernandes called “Rum Mouth”, who is said to be in his mid-20s, was arrested after the girl alleged that he raped her on September 23, 2019, in the county of Demerara.

The 12 jurors, after deliberating for over two hours, returned a majority not guilty verdict in the proportion of 10-2.

As such, trial Judge Priya Sewnarine-Beharry informed the accused, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Teriq Mohammed, that he was discharged and free to go.

The prosecutors were Attorneys-at-Law Simran Gajraj, Latifah Elliot, and Rbina Christmas.

The prosecution had contended that on the night in question, the teen girl was playing with her cousins when Fernandes called her from her grandparents’ house and into an alleyway.

When the girl got there, the prosecution further argued that Fernandes lift her skirt, pulled down her underwear, and raped her. But in his defence, Fernandes denied committing the crime.

According to him, on the day in question, he was passing through the alleyway when he saw another guy from the village engaging in a sexual activity with the teenage girl.

Upon seeing him, he claimed that the girl ran to her grandparents’ house and told her grandmother that he raped her.

A report to this effect was made to the Police and Fernandes was arrested and charged.

He had been out on cash bail pending the determination of his trial.