By Barbara Gayle, Staff ReporterTHERE WAS an emotional scene in the Home Circuit Court last Wednesday, when an accused man burst into tears on hearing that a 14-year-old high school girl, who changed her statement in the carnal abuse case against him, was to be sent to a place of safety.
The girl wept bitterly, as well as her mother, who was called into court after the girl changed her statement.
Dennis Levy, 24, of August Town, St. Andrew was charged with having carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 16. When the complainant testified on Wednesday, she said that the accused asked her, in August 2001, to be his girlfriend and she told him, yes. She said they had only kissed. The girl admitted having sexual intercourse before, but said it was not with the accused.
The girl admitted giving a previous statement saying that the accused sexually assaulted her. However, she said it was the police who pressured her to give that statement.
Following the girl's statement, Dirk Harrison, Crown Counsel, offered no further evidence in the case. The jury was then instructed to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe, who presided in court, advised the accused to join a church before the end of the day and give over his life to God because, if the jury had found him guilty, he would have received a long prison term.
PLACE OF SAFETY
The Chief Justice described the girl as a liar and threatened to send her to a place of safety. He told the girl's parents that she was not going home with them, but rather she was going to a place of safety. The girl was taken to the cell downstairs the courthouse to await the arrival of a probation officer.
Attorney-at-law Valerie Neita-Robertson, on hearing of the girl's plight, represented her as amicus curae (a friend of the court) and when court resumed, implored the Chief Justice not to send her to a place of safety. Mrs. Neita-Robertson informed the court that the girl was already in a counselling programme and her grades had improved significantly.
She said the girl had exams on Thursday and Friday and going to school from a place of safety would affect her. She stressed that the girl's parents were in court and were willing and able to take care of her.
The Chief Justice, after hearing Mrs. Neita-Robertson's plea, instructed the police and the probation officer to take the girl to the Family Court. The judge of the Family Court, after conducting a hearing into the matter, released the girl into the care and protection of her parents.
