BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A Nevisian was found guilty by a 12-member jury yesterday (Nov. 12) of indecent assault which was committed against a minor.
Kern Flemming was charged with indecent assault of a child under the age of seven; an offence he committed on July 23, 2011.
The trial began Friday (Nov. 9), last, with Attorney Dennis Merchant heading the prosecution team while the accused stood unrepresented.
The prosecution called six witnesses, including the victim, the investigating officers in the matter and Dr. John Essien to testify on their behalf to prove that on the said date the accused did indecently assault the child who at the time was just five years old.
According to the facts of the case, Flemming, being a friend of the family, visited the home of the victim and assaulted her while she was playing in her mother's bedroom.
It was revealed that the victim's grandmother and mother found out about the assault when she [victim] asked her grandmother a puzzling question that caused her to probe to find out if anything out of the ordinary had happened to the child based on her asking such a question.
It was also revealed in court that after Flemming was confronted by the child’s mother and grandmother, he repeatedly told them how sorry he was for committing the act.
After the prosecution rested its case, the accused chose not to testify or call witnesses to give evidence on his behalf.
The jury, after deliberation, brought back a unanimous guilty verdict. Now convicted, Flemming faces a possible ten-year sentence.
He is expected to be sentenced following the completion of his Social Inquiry Report.
