BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE case involving Leon Clarke of Christ Church and a minor ended in a hung jury on Tuesday (Mar. 8), making it the second one since the 2011 Criminal Assizes began on January 18.
The 28-year-old Clarke was charged with entering a house with intent to commit unlawful carnal knowledge on a 13-year-old girl in Tabernacle on September 17, 2010.
The trial began in camera on Monday (Mar. 7) and ended sometime after midday the following day after three prosecution witnesses and the accused had testified. He was represented by Barrister-at-Law Jonel Powell.
Led by Director of Public Prosecution Paulina Hendrickson, the prosecution team alleged that the incident occurred sometime in the night and Clarke had intended to commit the unlawful act.
This media house learned that during his testimony, Clarke told the court that he was not the person who committed the crime. He also had an alibi to which the prosecution objected.
The jury however returned a five/seven decision, which constitutes a hung jury, and the case will be traversed to the May Criminal Assizes.
The first time a jury was deadlock on a decision at the current assizes was in the case of Dwight Peets, who was charged with indecent assault of a 12-year-old boy.
The jury had returned with a nine/three decision on February 22.
Meanwhile, Craig Bradshaw, who originally pleaded not guilty to unlawful carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old girl, was found guilty unanimously by a 12-member jury.
The incident was said to have occurred at West Street, Basseterre in July 2009 and the prosecution which was led by Prosecutor, Rhonda Nisbett-Browne called on four witnesses to support it claims.
Bradshaw, who was represented by Barrister-at-Law Marsha Henderson, chose to remain silent when asked to answer to the claims made by the prosecution.
He will be sentenced March 24.
