A rape accused was freed in the High Court on Tuesday, after the virtual complainant said that she no longer wanted to give evidence in the five year old case.
Guy Anthony Scott, called ‘Red Man,’ was charged with canal knowledge of the then 13-year-old and in the alternative rape. Following the presentation of the indictments against Scott, a jury of seven men and five women were empanelled to hear the case before Justice Winston Patterson.
However State prosecutor Teshana James-Lake along with Judith Gildharie-Mursalin called the now 18-year-old complainant to the witness box, waiving her right to an opening address.
While in the witness box, the complaint indicated that she did not wish to proceed further with the matter and did not wish to offer evidence.
The teen told the court that she was not promised anything, coerced or pressured in any way by anyone to take such a course of action when she was questioned by Justice Patterson.
James-Lake then told the court that in light of what the complaint had said, the State would offer no other evidence against the accused, who is the father of a five-month-old baby.
Justice Patterson directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty on both counts.
Scott was then asked by the judge if he prays and responded in the affirmative, adding that he had gone to Church on Sunday. Justice Patterson also asked the man’s mother-in-law, who was present in court, if he was a good person and she said yes. It was shortly after this that Scott was told that he was free to go.
The offences were reportedly committed on December 24, 2006 at Dr. Dam La Grange, West Bank Demerara. Scott at the time was a cobbler. He was represented by attorney Lyndon Amsterdam.
