A man charged with the rape of a girl under the age of 16 was on Wednesday freed after a jury was unable to arrive at a verdict.
After about three hours of deliberations at the High Court in Georgetown, the 12-member jury could not decide on a verdict for Mahendra Budhan, who was accused of rape of a child under 16, allegedly committed between August 1 and August 31, 2010.
After indicating that they were split nine to three, the jurors sought further directions from trial judge Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, before retiring to the jury room again.
They emerged shortly after, but the foreman reported that they were still unable to arrive at a verdict. The numbers were still the same.
Justice Barlow explained that their decision did not amount to a verdict as there needed to be at a majority of at least ten to two.
Moments later, Budhan walked out the court a free man, but not before the judge cautioned him to be responsible in how he conducts himself in the future.
She also informed him that should the state so decide, he can face another trial.
The former-accused was represented by attorney Clyde Forde.
The state’s case meanwhile, was presented by Prosecutors Shawnette Austin, Tamieka Clarke and Mandell Moore, who called five witnesses to the stand.
The proceedings of the trial were held in-camera.
