Entertainer freed of rape charge

A western Jamaica entertainer, who was accused of sexual crimes against his 16-year-old sister-in-law, was freed of rape and grievous sexual assault charges in the Trelawny Circuit Court on Thursday.

The seven-member jury voted overwhelmingly -- six to one -- to acquit the accused man. However, they failed to reach a decision on the charges of attempted rape and indecent sexual assault. Despite retiring twice, the jury returned a not-guilty verdict -- four to three. The law requires a majority verdict of five of the seven jurors for conviction or acquittal.

Presiding judge, Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, ordered that the entertainer be retried on the charges of attempted rape and indecent sexual assault. The retrial is set for the next sitting of the Trelawny Circuit Court, which is scheduled to open on October 25.

The court heard that on the night of the incident in 2022, the accused allegedly penetrated the complainant's vagina with a body part. The complainant said he did so without her consent. She was, however, unable to say whether the accused used his penis to penetrate her.

In his defence, the accused man admitted to hugging and kissing the teen. He said it was done with her consent.