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Oct 01, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News
Joel De Souza, called ‘Shine Buck’ was last Thursday acquitted of a raping a child under 16 years old.
De Souza had faced a trial before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall and a 12-member mixed jury.
He was represented by Defence Counsel Ganesh Hira. The Prosecution was represented by State Counsel Mandel Moore and Seeta Bishundyal.
After deliberating for in excess of two hours on Thursday the jury returned a 10-2 majority decision of not guilty of rape of child under 16 years of age.
After the verdict was announced and Justice Ramlall told the accused that he was free to go, De Souza smiling and exhibiting a sense of relief thanked the jury and then exited the courtroom.
According to the charge, DeSouza was at Hydronie, Parika, East Bank Essequibo in January 2014 when he had sex with the child under the age of 16.
During the trial, while the accused admitted that he knew the V.C. he denied ever having any sexual relationship with her. He said that the V.C. had liked him but he never took her on.
The Prosecution called five witnesses, including the V.C., her mother, Corporal Dolcie Arbrams, Constable Cordella Jones, and Dr. Ahmad Ramroop.
From the V.C.’s evidence it transpired that she had known the accused for approximately four years prior to the alleged incident and subsequently developed a friendship with him.
The act allegedly occurred on Sunday midday at a dam opposite the Parika Market.
According to the state’s case, Dr. Ahmad Ramroop testified that from a physical examination that the V.C.’s hymen was perforated approximately two years before his examination on August 1, 2015.
He testified in court that he arrived at this conclusion having regard to the muscle tone and physical development of the child.
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