BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A jury at the Basseterre High Court was deadlocked after hours of deliberations in the case of Dwight Peets who is accused of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old boy.
The jury went into deliberations and returned at about 6:20 p.m. yesterday (Feb. 22) with a nine-three decision which constitutes a hung jury.
The case began on Monday, February 21 and the Director of Public Prosecution, Paulina Hendrickson, alleged that Peets had indecently assaulted the lad on May 25, 2008.
The prosecutor called a total of five witnesses, including the virtual complainant, to support her case.
After the prosecution had rested its case, Peets’ lawyer, Anthony Johnson, called on a witness and the defendant to prove his innocence.
This media house was unable to gather further information because the case was tried in camera. However, it was learnt that the prosecution alleged that Peets forced the juvenile to perform oral sex on him in Sandy Point.
In most cases of a hung jury, the presiding judge would order a retrial at another criminal assizes.
