Jury unable to reach verdict against man accused raping girl, 13

Leslie Castello, who was indicted at the Sexual Offences Court for the 2014 alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl, will have to face another trial after jurors were unable to reach a verdict following two hours of deliberation at the High Court Thursday afternoon.

Castello is on bail for the two counts of rape and the case ended in a hung jury before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow.

The State was represented by Tariq Mohammed and Mandel Moore while the defence attorney is Folio Richards.

In June 2018, Castello made his first High Court appearance before Justice Barlow, however, during the trial that jury too was also unable to reach a verdict and he had to face another trial before Justice Barlow.

It is alleged that Castello took the victim against her will into a backdam while she was on her way home from school and raped her twice.