JOEL Patterson exited the sexual offences court on Wednesday and plunged into the arms of his relatives who were in tears of joy, as the jury failed to come to a unanimous decision at the end his trial.

The young man was facing charges for rape of a child under the age of 16, and the matter was brought by the state to be heard before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow.

State Prosecutors Seeta Bishundial and Tiffini Lyken, read the indictment before the court which states that between September 1, 2016 and November 14, 2016, in the county of Demerara, the accused engaged in sexual penetration on two separate occasions, with an 11-year-old girl. The two occasions were being charged as separate counts.

His trial however, brought much difficulty in the decision making of the jury, as they were in deliberation for nearly four hours. Upon returning to the courtroom, the foreman announced that the verdict of the Jury was in a 6 to 6 proportion on both counts in the indictment.

Justice Barlow then told Patterson that he was free to exit the courtroom, as the jury had failed to come to a decision. As such, the chambers of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), will determine whether or when he will be tried again for the offence.