A man who was yesterday afternoon acquitted of charges that he had raped a nine-year-old girl, was encouraged by Justice Brassington Reynolds to use the opportunity granted to him to avoid brushes with the law in future.
To a tearful Vishnu Persaud, the judge said he hopes the experience of having to face trial would have been a salutary one.
“Only God knows what really happened,” the judge said.
Before discharging the former accused and informing him that he was free to go, Justice Reynolds expressed hope that Persaud would continue to be the father and mother he told the court he is to his children.
Before stepping out of the prisoner’s dock and exiting the courtroom, Persaud expressed gratitude to the jury for having found him not guilty of the charge.
Following about two hours of deliberations, the jury emerged with its unanimous verdict, acquitting Persaud of an indictment for rape of a child under the age of 16.
Particulars of the offence alleged that on September 20th, 2017 he raped the nine-year-old girl.
Persaud was represented by attorney Bernard Da Silva.
Meanwhile, the state’s case was presented by Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Seeta Bishundial.
The trial proceedings were held in-camera at the Sexual Offences Court of the Georgetown High Court.
