Carlos Wesley Payne, called ‘Piggy’, who had been on trial at the Demerara High Court for rape committed during the course of a robbery committed on three nurses at the Wismar Hospital in Linden, Region 10, on September 11, 2008, walked out of court a free man on Monday, after a 12-member jury had deliberated for more than an hour and had unanimously found him not guilty of the charges.
Carlos Wesley Payne, called “Piggy,” walked free after he was cleared of rape and robbery charges
The Prosecution, represented by State prosecutors Siand Dhurjon and Tuanna Hardy, had contended that Payne had forced his way into the hospital in the wee hours of the day in question, and had ordered three nurses to hand over jewellery, cellphones and other belongings before taking them to the back of the hospital, where he ordered them to lie down before he allegedly raped one of them.
But Payne, who conducted his own defence throughout the trial, denied that he was ever at the hospital on the day in question. He also complained about the amount of time he had spent behind bars.
The former accused had been arrested and placed into custody just days after he had allegedly committed the illegal acts.
Moments after he was freed, trial judge, Justice Navindra Singh, reminded him of his criminal history.
On Wednesday last, Payne had demanded that Police ranks outside his holding cell give him a bottle of Mackeson, telling them that he needed to cool his head.
