A Linden man yesterday walked out the High Court a free man after a jury found him not guilty of raping a girl under the age of 15.
Vvenket Primo had been slapped with three counts of carnally knowing a girl under the age of 15. The charges against him stated that between February 1 and February 29, 2008, and on March 5 and March 7, of 2008 he had carnal knowledge of a girl under 15.
Upon indictment, Primo had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After about three hours of deliberation, the jury returned not guilty verdicts by way of a majority of 10 to 2 for each count.
Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, who presided over the in-camera trial at the High Court in Georgetown, informed Primo that he had been found not guilty by his peers and that he was free to go.
The judge admonished Primo that going forward, he should seize the opportunity to change whatever he may consider needs to be changed in his life and to connect with his god, whatever he perceives him to be, and through introspection, to fix his life, if there is anything that needs to be fixed.
The state’s case was presented by prosecutor Shawnette Austin who called six witnesses to the stand.
Primo was represented by defence attorney Dexter Todd.
