Former teacher on trial for sexual activity with underage girl

The trial of former Bishops’ High School teacher Coen Jackson, 43, who has been charged with engaging in sexual activity with one of his female students, commenced on Wednesday before Demerara High Court Judge Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and a 12-person mixed jury.
Particulars of the charges he faces state that, on four occasions between February, March, April, and May of 2011, Jackson engaged in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16 by abusing a position of trust.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and is being represented by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes and Jerome Khan, while the case for the prosecution is being led by State Counsel Nafeeza Baig, in association with State Counsels Muntaz Ali and Latifah Elliot.
Allegations of Jackson preying on his students and grooming them in preparation for sexual relationships surfaced in 2017. An official complaint was later made at the Education Ministry, and the matter was handed over to the Police for probing.
The Police instituted charges against Jackson in March 2018. Following a paper committal two months later, he was committed to stand trial for the offence after a city magistrate ruled that a prima facie case had been made out against him.
Jackson remains on $300,000 bail pending the hearing and determination of this trial. (G1)