Accused in rape of girl, 15, freed by jury

A man, who had been on trial for raping a 15-year-old girl, walked out of the High Court in Essequibo a free man last Friday after the jury returned a not-guilty verdict in his favour.
Before the presiding Judge, Mohan Heriman, 34, had been on trial for the offence of rape of a child under the age of 16 which the indictment disclosed happened in September 2022.
He was indicted on four counts.
In presenting the prosecution’s case, State Counsel Taneisha Saygon said during the month in question, the virtual complainant (VC) and Heriman met up at a house after talking to each other via the phone for a while. There, Heriman allegedly raped the girl.
After the girl’s mother found out about her relations with the older man, she made a report to the Police which led to Heriman being arrested and charged.
Heriman’s lawyer, George Thomas, however, argued that this was a case of mistaken identification. He argued that his client was not the man who raped the girl.
In so doing, Thomas pointed out that the girl provided the Police with another man’s name and that his client has no association with this individual.
Following hours of deliberations, the 12-member mixed panel returned with its verdict, finding Heriman not guilty of statutory rape. The Judge thereafter informed him that he was free to go.
The trial proceedings were heard in-camera. (G1)