By George Barclay

CARNAL knowledge accused, Thorn Cameron began his defence before a High Court judge and jury at the Demerara Assizes yesterday.The 30-year old accused, defended by Maxwell McKay, had pleaded not guilty. Justice Seunarine-Beharry is the presiding judge.
The Police have accused Cameron of having carnal knowledge of a girl of West Coast, Demerara under the age of 14 years.
The offence is contrary to Section 70 Act 8:01.
In an unsworn statement from the dock, the accused, who maintained his innocence, also claimed that he had attended an Identification parade when the victim failed to identify anybody on parade, forcing the officer to say: “Everybody free to go.” I left the station and went home, he said.
Cameron said that he was sitting on a bench at the Leonora Police station, when a rank told him he ‘gon get charge for rape and that I rape some lil girl up at Vreed-en Hoop jetty.’
The accused said he was invited to attend a second ID parade and he told the officer that he had already attended one and was never pointed out.
In the height of the matter the accused said that relatives of the girl pointed to him and said: “Dat is the boy, that is the boy.” He said following this accusation at the second ID parade the girl walked and came straight to him – without going to anybody else.
The trial continues today when the defence is expected to call a witness.
The offence is alleged to have been committed on Thusday, August 2, 2007.