Thirty-five-year-old Linden resident Clevon Forde now faces a retrial after a jury was unable to arrive at a verdict on a charge against him for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl back in 2014.
The charge states that between May 24th and 25th, 2014, he sexually penetrated girl without her consent.
Following hours of deliberations, the foreman reported to the court that the panel was deadlocked and unable to arrive at a consensus or majority verdict.
In the circumstances, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow informed a visibly relieved Forde that he was free to go, but not before cautioning him that he would be contacted by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions informing of the date for a new trial.
The prosecution’s facts are that Forde had driven the young lady to a backroad location at Kara Kara, MacKenzie, Linden where he sexually penetrated her without her consent.
The court had heard that the complainant was at the Amelia’s Ward car park when the accused called her over to where he was.
Prosecutor Sarah Martin said that the two then decided to go to a club but when they got there, Forde jumped over into the backseat where he fondled the complainant.
The court had heard during the trial that the girl rebuffed Forde’s advances and pushed him off; but he then drove her to the Kara Kara backroad where he raped her.
The teen later told her aunt and a report was made, which subsequently led to Forde’s arrest, following police investigations.
The trial was held in camera at the Sexual Offences Court in Georgetown.
Forde was represented by defence attorney Rachel Bakker, while the state’s case was led by Martin, in association with Nafeeza Baig.