– as victim refused to give evidence
GUY Anthony Scott, an accused facing trial for carnal knowledge, alternatively, rape was freed at the Demerara Assizes after the alleged victim refused to give evidence against him.
As a consequence of the girl deciding not to testify, Prosecutors Teshana James-Lake and Judith Gildharie-Mursalin had no further evidence against the accused. When the case against the accused was called up last Friday before Justice Winston Patterson he pleaded not guilty and a 12-member jury was empanelled to hear the two-count indictment.
But the prosecution’s case went abegging when the young woman, now 18, who was allegedly criminally assaulted at the age of 13, turned up and declared her intention not to testify against the accused.
The VC told Justice Patterson: “I am not giving any evidence against this accused. I am doing so on my own free will.  No one has pressured me or asked me to do so.”
Prosecutor Lake said that in the light of the virtual complainant’s decision, the prosecution was not in a position to offer further evidence.
As a consequence, the judge directed the jury (who was put in charge of the accused), to return a formal verdict of not guilty on both counts of the indictment.          The accused was discharged.