Dexter Philadelphia, a 51-year-old contractor from Number 51 Village, Corentyne, was acquitted of a charge of rape following a trial at the Berbice High Court on Thursday. The case was presided over by Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty.
The allegations against Philadelphia stemmed from an incident that allegedly occurred on August 6, 2016, while he was residing in Fyrish Village. Philadelphia denied the allegations, maintaining his innocence throughout the trial.
Represented by Attorney-at-Law Kevin Morgan from the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic, Philadelphia faced State Prosecutor Marisa Edwards, who presented the prosecution’s case.
According to the prosecution, the complainant was home alone on the day of the alleged incident when inappropriate contact was purportedly made. The matter came to light several months later, with formal complaints lodged on February 22, 2017.
During the trial, the court heard that the child was taken for medical evaluation at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, and medical findings were presented as evidence. The child’s mother testified that her daughter had confided in her about the incident, though initially wishing to keep it private.
However, discrepancies in the details of the child’s police statement were raised during cross-examination. A Police Sergeant involved in recording the complaint testified that only one incident had been formally documented.
After deliberating on the evidence presented and following the judge’s directions, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty, resulting in Philadelphia’s acquittal. He was cleared of all charges related to the allegation.
