Latest update November 29th, 2024 1:00 AM
Rape trial ends in hung jury
Esan Abrahams
The trial of Esan Abrahams, a former worker at the Ministry of Public Health, ended in a hung jury.
A 12-member mixed jury was unable to arrive at a verdict for the offence of Rape of a Child under 16 years. It was alleged that between July 1 and July 25, 2015, in the county of Demerara, Abrahams engaged in sexual penetration of a 14 year-old boy.
In relation to this charge, the jurors decision was disproportionate- seven not guilty to five guilty.
In the circumstances, trial Judge Jo-Ann Barlow instructed Abrahams that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) will make a pronouncement on whether he will face a retrial. Abrahams, who during last year was residing at North Ruimveldt Georgetown, was however acquitted on a similar offence involving the said 14-year-old boy.
That indictment alleged that between June 21 and June 30, 2015 in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual activity with the underage boy. The jurors found him not guilty on this charge, by a verdict of 10 not guilty to two guilty.
At the announcement of the verdict, Abrahams who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes broke down in tears while standing in the prisoner’s dock. After the verdict he had the support of his loved ones who hugged him compassionately after he walked out of the sexual offences courtroom at the High Court in Georgetown.
Initially, Abrahams was charged with the offences in June 2017. He first appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for the preliminary inquiry. That Preliminary Inquiry (PI) was conducted by way of paper committal and at the conclusion Abrahams was committed to stand trial in the High Court.
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