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TWENTY-one year old Abickie Ferguson was yesterday freed of the murder of her step-father, Glendon Scipio, which she allegedly committed when she was 17, in 2009.
After a trial at the Demerara Assizes which lasted several days, a mixed jury found her not guilty of murder by a unanimous verdict, and not guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter by a majority verdict in the proportion of 11 to 1. She was discharged by Presiding Judge Mr. Navindra Singh who advised her to walk the straight and narrow path.
The girl, represented by Attorney-at-Law Mr. Huckumchand, had pleaded not guilty to murder and explained that the accused had on that day carried out a pattern of abuse against her that led to her hitting out at him with a knife..
Her mother had described her as demon- possessed, but her biological father told the judge and jury that he had knowledge of several rape attempts by the step-father against his daughter. However, a 71-year old neighbour, Dora Fraser, a witness for the prosecution, revealed that the girl was an evil one, who would curse the step-father whenever he had cause to rebuke her for her bad behaviour.
On the other hand, Abickie, from the dock, said that the accused would at times hold her breast and abuse her.
Prosecutors Miss Rhondel Weever and Miss Renita Singh called witnesses with the hope of proving the prosecution’s case, but the jury at the end of the day, gave the accused the benefit of the doubt by returning a verdict of not guilty after retiring for a little more than two hours.
On hearing the verdict, Abickie wept. And on being told by the judge that she was free to leave, she again cried bitterly as she alone strode from the dock to Croal Street, outside the court, where relatives and friends ran from the court and accompanied her on her first journey after freedom.
After a trial at the Demerara Assizes which lasted several days, a mixed jury found her not guilty of murder by a unanimous verdict, and not guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter by a majority verdict in the proportion of 11 to 1. She was discharged by Presiding Judge Mr. Navindra Singh who advised her to walk the straight and narrow path.
The girl, represented by Attorney-at-Law Mr. Huckumchand, had pleaded not guilty to murder and explained that the accused had on that day carried out a pattern of abuse against her that led to her hitting out at him with a knife..
Her mother had described her as demon- possessed, but her biological father told the judge and jury that he had knowledge of several rape attempts by the step-father against his daughter. However, a 71-year old neighbour, Dora Fraser, a witness for the prosecution, revealed that the girl was an evil one, who would curse the step-father whenever he had cause to rebuke her for her bad behaviour.
On the other hand, Abickie, from the dock, said that the accused would at times hold her breast and abuse her.
Prosecutors Miss Rhondel Weever and Miss Renita Singh called witnesses with the hope of proving the prosecution’s case, but the jury at the end of the day, gave the accused the benefit of the doubt by returning a verdict of not guilty after retiring for a little more than two hours.
On hearing the verdict, Abickie wept. And on being told by the judge that she was free to leave, she again cried bitterly as she alone strode from the dock to Croal Street, outside the court, where relatives and friends ran from the court and accompanied her on her first journey after freedom.
