Boat operator acquitted of rape charge by jury

The High Court has acquitted a man of a seven-year-old rape charge, with the jury on Wednesday returning a unanimous not-guilty verdict in his favour after deliberations.
Brian Albert, a boat operator in his late 30s, had been indicted for the offence of rape, contrary to the Sexual Offences Act. He had been accused of raping a woman on January 1, 2016 in the county of Essequibo, and was on trial for the offence before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Demerara High Court.
At the start of his trial, Albert, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Teriq Mohammed, had pleaded not guilty to the indictment. He had been out on bail pending the determination of his trial.
The virtual complainant had alleged that on New Year’s Day of 2016, she had gone to Albert’s sister’s home, where she imbibed local wine and became intoxicated. She had then gone to take a nap, but was awakened by someone “pressing on her body”, and noticed that Albert had positioned himself between her legs, and was having sex with her against her will.
She alleged that she pushed him off of her, and he…ran out of the house. At the same time, she had claimed, Albert’s sister returned home, saw her lying naked on the bed, assaulted her, and chased her out of her house. (G1)