Ex-soldier acquitted of raping woman but found guilty of assaulting her.

Warren George, 22, was on Wednesday acquitted of the offence of rape committed against a woman but was found guilty of assaulting her so as to cause her actual bodily harm.

The now-convicted man, who was once enlisted in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), had been on trial for the crimes before Justice Navindra Singh at the Sexual Offences Court in Georgetown.

Following deliberations on Wednesday, the jurors found George not guilty of the rape charge and guilty of the other charge, after deliberating for more than two hours.

He assaulted her on June 12, 2020.

In light of the verdict, the offender, a bodybuilder, was further remanded to prison pending his sentencing hearing which has been scheduled for sometime in the new month.

According to Section 49 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, “Everyone who assaults any person so as to cause him actual bodily harm shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and liable to imprisonment for five years.”

Last Tuesday, George escaped from the courthouse by jumping over the western corridor.

He then ran out of the court’s compound, heading in the direction of Avenue of the Republic.

When he showed up at court the following day, he apologised to Justice Singh for his actions.

But after considering the serious nature of the offence for which he is charged, the Judge revoked George’s bail and remanded him to prison pending the hearing and determination of his trial.