Iguana trapper freed of rape indictment
A MIXED jury at the Berbice Assizes, by a majority verdict, yesterday freed Delroy Leitch, who was on trial for rape before Justice Winston Patterson.

Following the 11 to one acquittal decision, the judge discharged the accused, who had been indicted for having forced sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl, at his Alness, Corentyne home, between August 16 and 19, 2005.

Leitch, an iguana trapper, relied on a caution statement he previously gave the Police.

In an unsworn declaration from the dock, he said the minor did visit his house but was in company with her sister and two older relatives.

Freeing Leitch, Justice Patterson told him his peers have indicated that he is not guilty.

“I have no doubt that you are a praying man. Continue to do so,” the judge advised him.

Before the trial, a Bench Warrant was issued for Leitch after he failed to make an appearance but he attended the following day and said he was unaware of the December 1 start of the case.

Leitch was unrepresented at the beginning but attorney-at-law Mr. Michael Baird appeared as a friend of the Court prior to handing over the brief to Mr. Ian Anamayah, from the Legal Aid Clinic.

Under cross-examination by Baird, the virtual complainant, now 18-years-old, said that at the time of the alleged incident, she was scared and, as a result, did not tell anyone about it.

She said she told her mother on December 6, 2005, after the latter threatened to take her to a doctor to ascertain whether she was sexually active.

That was after neighbours had informed the girl’s parent that both males and females would be in the house when she is not present.

State Prosecutor Dionne Mc Cammon, in her opening address last week, had said the teen and a younger sister went to Leitch’s home to help his wife who had just given birth.

However, the sister accompanied the baby’s mother to register the infant’s birth and the accused, on returning home and seeing the victim, put his hands over her mouth and had sex with her against her will, the Prosecutor claimed.