Bus conductor to face re-trial for rape after hung jury

Bus conductor Leon Doris, accused of raping an underage girl, will have to face a new trial, after a jury could not reach a verdict yesterday in the High Court.

After over three hours of deliberation, members of the 12-member jury told Justice Franklyn Holder that they could not decide whether the accused was guilty of raping a girl under the age of 16 in November 2009.

When asked by Justice Holder if there was anything they needed clarification on in order to assist them in arriving at a verdict, the members of the jury replied in the negative. As a result, Justice Holder told the court that because of the jury’s decision, the case will have to be retried before another judge and jury.

Doris is accused of having carnal knowledge with a girl under the age of 16, after she had accompanied him to his sister’s house to uplift a receipt. The girl had told the court that she knew Doris from travelling on a bus where he was the conductor.