Minibus driver freed of rape charge

A route 44 minibus driver on Tuesday walked out of the Demerara High Court a free man after a 12-member jury found him not guilty of raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl in 2018.

Edgar Holder, called “Yack”, was on trial before Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Demerara High Court for the offence of rape of a child under the age of 16 – years – old. The girl had claimed that on January 19, 2018, she was picked up by Holder and taken to a dark and bushy area away from her home and raped.

Holder had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The State was represented by prosecutors Sarah Martin and Nafeeza Baig.  Holder was represented by attorney-at-law, Rachael Bakker.

Following Justice Reynolds’ summation of the case on Tuesday, the 12-member jury retired to deliberate and returned some hours after with the unanimous verdict, finding Holder not guilty of the offence.

“I just want to give God thanks and praises,” Holder said during his address to the court following the verdict.