The Jimbo Bridge Road rape and robbery accused walked out of the High Court a free man yesterday after the jury unanimously found him not guilty of both offences.
Acquitted is Akeem Alexander, of Third Street, Craig, who was accused of robbing a woman and raping her on November 15, 2009 at Jimbo Bridge Road, Grove, East Bank Demerara. Alexander was not represented by an attorney during the trial.
Justice Franklyn Holder yesterday handed over the case to the jury for deliberation, which lasted for the entire morning with routine breaks and continued into the afternoon for about another two hours.
Alexander, who was reading his Testament as he sat in the dock during the deliberation, had a fearful look on his face.
The jury then returned with the not guilty verdict on the first count of rape and the second of robbery under arms. After the verdict was given, Justice Holder told Alexander that he should turn his life around. Alexander then immediately exited the prison dock after the court was adjourned.
It was alleged that Alexander had walked past the woman on the night of November 15, 2009, swung around, pulled out a knife which he pointed at her and demanded sex and money from her.
According to the allegation, he also told the woman that he would kill her if she did not comply and subsequently pushed her to the ground. After the woman fell, the accused then dragged her to the corner of the road and raped her.
