– as jury clears him of 2014 rape

CURTIS Sulker, called “Red Man”, a tout at the Berbice Bus Park, walked out of the Demerara High Court a free man on Thursday afternoon after a 12-member jury found him not guilty of the September 7, 2014 rape of a female family-friend at the Botanical Gardens.

After several hours of deliberation, the jury returned the “not guilty” verdict, after which the accused was told by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall in the Sexual Offences Court that he was free to go.

The seemingly surprised man thanked the judge, and calmly walked out of the courtroom, leaving the relatives of the virtual complainant, who had broken down in tears after hearing the verdict, to console her.

The State said that on the day in question, the accused, a former family-friend, took the young lady, who was 16 at the time, to the Botanical Gardens where he allegedly committed the act of rape.

The State’s case was led by Seeta Bishundial and Natasha Backer, while the defence was led by Clyde Forde.