Indecent assault trial reaches 'not guilty' verdict

Friday 07 February 2020

A man has been found not guilty of indecently assaulting two children by a five to four majority, after a trial before Guernsey's Royal Court.

The alleged assaults dated back to the 1980s and '90s and involved two female complainants, who were both under the age of 16 at the time.

The man, now in his late sixties, was accused of four counts of indecent assault - two against each complainant.

The pair alleged the man had asked them, on separate occasions, to join him in his bed. Once in his bed, they claimed the defendant had touched them indecently.

The further two counts related to alleged incidents when the man had indecently touched the children while they were sleeping in their own beds.

The defendant denied all four counts, saying they simply did not happen.

Pictured: The defendant was found not guilty in Guernsey's Royal Court.

He was arrested in February last year, after the first complainant contacted Guernsey Police, and he had been on bail since then, until his trial this week. The second complainant came forward shortly after, when police officers got in touch with her.

Over the course of the three day trial, the Royal Court heard from the complainants themselves, who were then cross examined by the defence, Advocate Sam Steel.

Both the defendant and his current partner also gave evidence.

Crown Advocate Fiona Russell explained to the court how the two complainants had "very different personalities" and "don't appear to have much in common". Judge Russell Finch reiterated this to the nine Jurats during his summing up of the case, reminding them that the complainants are "far from close" and "hardly devoted buddies".

However, he told the Jurats they must not let their own emotions take control of their decisions.

"The allegations in this case are unpleasant," he said. "It is necessary to keep a cool head. You must put aside any feelings you have about cases such as these. Do not allow your emotions to take over.

After an hour and a half of deliberation, the nine Jurats returned with a not guilty verdict on all counts, with a majority of five to four on each.

Pictured top: The Royal Court House.