BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A 12-member jury at the Basseterre High Court on Monday (June 6) returned a not guilty verdict [11-1] for Kurt Prentice who was charged with a buggery offence.
According to the evidence presented in court, Prentice was accused of performing the despicable act on a 23-year-old man between February 5-6, 2011 in Newton Ground.
The victim is said to be suffering from mental issues.
The trial, which began on Friday (June 2), was held in camera but this media house however learnt that four prosecution witnesses took the stand, including the victim.
The victim told the court he normally sleeps in an abandon house that belongs to his mother, and on the day in question, Prentice entered the building and sodomised him sometime after midnight.
The victim said he was sleeping and was awaken by Prentice.
However, when asked if he saw Prentice (who was seated in the prisoner’s dock), anywhere in the court, he said, “No.”
He was further asked if he saw the person who had committed the act on him in court and he again responded in the negative.
After the prosecution closed its case, Prentice entered the witness dock and gave evidence under oath. He also called his sister to give evidence on his behalf to support his not guilty plea.
Following Justice Errol Thomas’ summarisation of the case, the jury deliberated for a short while and returned a not guilty verdict.
Meanwhile, today (June 8) at the Basseterre High Court of Justice, Carl Warner appeared before His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas charged with indecently assaulting a 23-year-old woman at his home in Lodge on August 28, 2010.
The case began on Thursday (June 1) and he is being represented by Attorney John Cato.
Warner is accused of touching the woman’s breast and vagina while she was seated in his home.
It is alleged that he also asked her if anyone had ever performed oral sex on her and he tried to take her into his bedroom. The victim was however able to escape from him and subsequently made a report to the police station.
When it was time for the defense to present its case, Warner took the witness stand and told the court that at the time of the alleged incident he and his friend, Elmond Dickenson, were at a bar.
He also called Dickson as his witness to support his case.
At press time, Justice Thomas was giving his summary of the case.
