Jurors unable to reach verdict in three of four counts of rape against Coen Jackson

Jurors on Tuesday were unable to reach a definite verdict on three counts of child rape against former Bishops’ High School teacher Coen Jackson.

Faced with a hung jury, this means that the man now accused of abusing his position of trust, will face a second trial; the jury, however, found him not guilty on a fourth count of child rape.

Jackson, 43, was on trial before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Sexual Offences Court. The former teacher had denied the charges which stated that on four separate occasions between February to May 2011, he engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16.

The judge on Tuesday told Jackson that he will have to face another trial at the next practical sitting of the Demerara Assizes for the three counts since the jury was unable to arrive at a unanimous verdict.

He was represented by attorneys Nigel Hughes and Jerome Khan while the State is represented by prosecutors Nafeeza Baig, Muntaz Ali and Latifah Elliot.

In his unsworn statement to the court, Jackson said that he had no relationship with the complainant, sexual or otherwise while she was under 16.

He said he established a relationship with her while she was a student at the University of Guyana where he was reading for his Master degree at the time.

In 2018, Jackson was arrested for the rape and sexual assault of a former student of the Bishops’ High School who is now an adult.