At Demerara Assizes…
A GIRL, now 17, whose report to Police led to Kirt Fontanelle being charged with carnal knowledge of a then 13-year-old, yesterday declined to give evidence in the High Court.
Consequently, State Prosecutor Latchmie Rahamat did not lead any further testimony and Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire directed the Demerara Assizes jury to formally return a not guilty verdict in favour of the 45-year-old accused and discharged him.
Earlier, Fontanelle, on being arraigned on the indictment had pleaded not guilty but was unrepresented by counsel.
It was after being sworn, as a witness, that the virtual complainant expressed her unwillingness to say anything about the matter and Rahamat said she was not in a position to continue the prosecution.