A man accused of raping a woman he befriended on Facebook and who later went to his house to cook for him, was yesterday acquitted following the conclusion of his trial at the Georgetown Sexual Offences Court.
The court heard from the virtual complainant (VC) that while she agreed to cook for the man, they also agreed that there would be no sexual intercourse.
The case for the defence, however, was that the VC saw an incoming call from a woman on the man’s cellphone which angered her and led to her making the sexual assault allegation against him.
The indictment against Christopher Howes was that he sexually penetrated the woman on April 5th, 2020 without her consent.
He was 56 years old at the time. She was 48.
The complainant, according to the case presented by the prosecution, was picked up by Howes in his motor car on the day in question and taken to his residence.
While there, the court heard that they conversed, cooked and ate.
Sometime after, Howes is alleged to have touched the woman’s leg as they sat in the living room.
The State’s case was that after the woman rejected Howes’ advances, he began physically assaulting her—cuffing her to the face and about the body—which caused her to hold onto his testicles.
The former-accused was then alleged to have taken the virtual complainant into his bedroom where he stripped her and raped her.
Howes in his defence told the court that his accuser was angered by the incoming call and an argument ensued during which she took up a spoon with which she hit him on his testicles.
The court heard that he as a result dealt the woman two slaps after which she made the police report.
Howes told the court that he later underwent medical treatment for injuries sustained to his testicles.
Following hours of deliberations yesterday afternoon, a 12-member jury returned a unanimous verdict, acquitting Howes of the charge.
Presiding Judge Priya Sewnarine-Beharry informed the visibly-relieved man that he had been found not guilty and was free to go.
Howes was represented by defence attorney Clyde Forde.
The State was presented by prosecutor Latifah Elliot in association with Nafeeza Baig and Muntaz Ali.
The trial proceedings were held in-camera.
