BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER deliberating for some three hours, a 10-two divided jury found Troy Hendrickson guilty of unlawful carnal knowledge this afternoon (Jan. 31) at the Basseterre High Court.
Hendrickson, whose trial began on Thursday (Jan. 27), was charged with unlawfully and carnally knowing a 12-year-old girl in Bourryeau Village on February 12, 2009. He was also charged with rape but that case ended in a hung jury.
According to the Lectric Law Library’s Lexicon, A hung jury is “a jury that is unable to reach a verdict which, if it persists, usually results in a mistrial being declared by the court. In such a situation the case may be retried, generally at the discretion of the prosecution if criminal. In such a situation a retrial does not constitute double jeopardy”.
Hendrickson appeared before His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas and was represented by Barrister-at-Law Vincent Warner, who called on one witness in defence of his client.
The witness told the court that the accused was in the mountain at the time the incident was said to have occurred. However, the prosecution called on six witnesses, including the victim who is now 14 years old, her parents and a doctor, whose evidence contradicted that of Hendrickson’s witness.
His Lordship told Hendrickson that he would be detained in police custody and sentenced on February 17.
The age of consent is 16 years and the maximum sentence for unlawful carnal knowledge is life imprisonment.
Meanwhile, David Morton and Emmanuel Mills are also facing rape charges and will soon be appearing before the same trial judge.
