A New Amsterdam man was acquitted of a 2018 rape charge in the High Court in Berbice yesterday after the virtual complainant, who was 14 years old at the time of the incident, opted to not give evidence against him.
Ravindra Samaroo also known as ‘Ryan Samaroo’, 29, was charged with the offence of rape of a child under the age of 16 years.
At the High Court yesterday morning, Samaroo, who was represented by attorney-at-law, Surihya Sabsook, entered a not-guilty plea before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall.
Initially when the jury was selected yesterday morning, Prosecutor, attorney-at-law, Tuanna Hardy, indicated that she had four witnesses to call who included the virtual complainant (VC), her mother, and two police officers.
However, after the VC decided not to give any evidence in the matter, the judge then directed the jury to return with a verdict of not guilty.
After the verdict, the judge told the accused, who appeared via Zoom, that if he was in court, she would have then told him “You’re free to go” to which he replied “Yes Ma’am.”
