— jury at rape trial heard yesterday
THE Bachelor’s Adventure rape trial involving accused Devon Mc Farlene began at the Demerara Assizes yesterday. There, a 26-year old married woman & security guard told a mixed jury about the night she was going home along the Bachelor’s Adventure Road, ECD, when she was attacked and raped by the accused in an unfinished concrete building.
Members of the mixed jury hearing the matter before Justice Roxanne George heard Prosecutor Retina Singh, in her opening address, telling them that on the 11th of January, 2009, at about 12:40 in the morning, the mother of three saw the accused on a bicycle.
According to the prosecutor, evidence will be led to show that the accused rode ahead of the woman and was standing on the street about two feet away from a street light.
The woman walked past him, and as she continued on her way, she heard behind her a noise that caused her to look back; and she saw the accused, who told her something.
He then took her to the unfinished concrete house, ordered her to place her hands against the wall, pulled down his pants, and proceeded to rape her.
The prosecutor said the victim would say that the accused, when finished committing the act, told her to put on her clothes, warning her that if he heard anything by morning he would return for her.
The prosecutor added that the witness would say that she got dressed, took her money and her haversack and went home, leaving the accused in the house.
When she reached home, she told her husband that she had been raped by Devon.
Later she made a statement to the police, and took the police to the scene, where she pointed out the unfinished building and the accused as the person who had allegedly raped her.
During a confrontation between the victim and the accused, the latter is alleged to have replied, “I is a married man, I won’t do that! I know your husband.’
Dealing with the ‘presumption of innocence’ the prosecutor said, “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the accused has nothing to prove in this matter. He can remain in the dock throughout his trial and say nothing.  That is his right.
“It is the prosecution who must prove this case to you beyond a reasonable doubt. What this means, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is that in order to find the accused guilty, after you have heard all the evidence presented to you by the prosecution and tested by the defence, you must feel sure that the accused, Devon Mc Farlene, called ‘Kang’, committed the offence of rape, or had sexual intercourse with the victim without her consent.”
Leading prosecutor in the matter is Senior State Counsel, Mrs Judith Gildharie-Mursalin.
Mr. Ronald Burch-Smith is defending the accused as the trial continues.