Guyana: East Bank Berbice Man Freed After Jury Clears Him at Retrial

An East Bank Berbice man who was previously sentenced to life imprisonment for child rape has been acquitted following a retrial in the Berbice High Court. Krishna Tulapersaud, 36, of Plegtanker Village, walked free after a 12-member jury unanimously found him not guilty of one charge, while the second charge was dismissed by the trial judge due to insufficient evidence. Tulapersaud had been accused of engaging in sexual activity and sexual penetration with a six-year-old girl during separate incidents in February 2013 and February 2014. He was initially convicted in 2018 and sentenced to life imprisonment while being represented by Attorney-at-Law Charandas Persaud. Tulapersaud later appealed both his conviction and sentence. Represented by Attorney-at-Law Arudranauth Gossai in the Court of Appeal, he successfully secured an order for a retrial. When the case returned before Justice Simone Morris, Tulapersaud again denied both allegations. During the retrial, State Prosecutor Marisa Edwards presented evidence through six witnesses, including a police officer. Following deliberations, the jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict on the charge of engaging in sexual activity with a child. Justice Morris also upheld a no-case submission on the charge of sexual penetration with a child, ruling that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence for the matter to proceed. The decision brings to an end legal proceedings that began more than a decade ago, with Tulapersaud’s earlier conviction now set aside and his release secured following the successful appeal and retrial.

Source: snn.gy