Man, 22, found not guilty of raping girl, 11

A 22-year-old security guard on Monday walked out of the Demerara High Court a free man after a 12-member jury found him not guilty of two counts of rape allegedly committed on an 11-year-old girl.

Reon Joseph of Wren Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was on trial before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Demerara High Court for the offence of rape of a child under the age of 16.

He had denied the two indictments, which alleged that during the month of December 2017, Joseph lured the girl to his Wren Avenue home and raped her.

The State was represented by prosecutors State Counsel Muntaz Ali in association with State Counsel Nafeeza Baig and Latifah Elliot.  Joseph was represented by Attorney Teriq Mohammed.

Following the judge’s summation of the case on Monday, the 12-member jury retired to deliberate and returned some hours after with the verdict, finding Joseph not guilty of the two offences.