University student accused of sexually assaulting teen cousin | News
A university student accused of sexually assaulting his teenage cousin has been freed in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court of charges of sexual touching and indecent assault.
The 25-year-old accused was freed after Parish Court Judge Simone Walker-McFarlane upheld a no-case submission made by his attorney, Javed Grant.
The prosecution alleged that between July and August 2024, the man sexually assaulted his cousin, who was then under the age of 16.
Following a report to the police, the man was arrested and subsequently charged.
During the trial, Grant challenged the credibility of the Crown’s witnesses, as well as what he described as major investigative deficiencies in the case.
In upholding the no-case submission, the judge pointed to several inconsistencies in the complainant’s account of how the alleged assaults occurred.
The court heard that the complainant initially claimed that the first incident took place while she and the accused were alone.
However, under cross-examination, she later acknowledged that they were never by themselves and were always in the company of other adults and family members.
The judge also noted inconsistencies surrounding handwritten notes allegedly linked to the matter, including conflicting accounts about who wrote them and where they originated.
On one occasion, the complainant reportedly attributed the notes to another individual before later accusing the defendant of writing them.
Questions were also raised about the police investigation.
The investigating officer admitted to only taking statements from the complainant and her mother before laying charges.
No statements were reportedly obtained from other potential witnesses, and no evidence was presented regarding any attempts made to contact them.
Following the ruling, the man was freed.
– Tanesha Mundle
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