Clift Semple, composer of the local version of the song “London Bridge is Falling Down,” which he directed at self-proclaimed pope, Philbert London, who in 2016 became embattled in a sex scandal, had himself been embroiled in sex allegations dating back to that very year.
Semple had for the past several days, been facing trial before a judge and jury at the Georgetown Sexual Offences Court on an indictment which alleged that on August 9th of 2016, he raped an 18-year-old female.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge which was read to him at the commencement of his trial last week.
Following deliberations yesterday afternoon, the 12-member mixed jury which heard the case, acquitted a visibly relieved Semple, an act for which trial Judge Brassington Reynolds pointed out that he (Semple), may want to sing about.
Referencing facts presented during the trial, the judge told the former accused that he may now want to extend the father/daughter duet combo to composing a whole new song about himself.
He told an attentive Semple that the new song should include his own experience of having been placed before the Sexual Offences Court.
And after informing him that a sentence of life imprisonment had been riding on the offence for which he was cleared by the jury, Justice Reynolds suggested to Semple that if he does do a new song, it should include a bit of mathematical calculations and “lots of geometry.”
“You have to count your lucky stars,” the judge told Semple, who nodded in seeming agreement, even as he admonished him to “stay clear of trouble.”
The judge said that while no one, with the exception of the former-accused and complainant truly knew what transpired on the day in question, he told Semple that there was a good judge above who knows everything and will judge all in the fullness of time.
Noting that the complainant has been evidently affected, but must now go on with her life, the judge ordered that she continues receiving counselling services from her various support personnel and organizations.
“You are free to go,” the judge then told Semple who quickly exited the prisoner’s dock and the courtroom in the like fashion.
Semple was represented by attorney Adrian Thompson.
The state’s case, meanwhile, was presented by Prosecutor Sarah Martin, in association with Lisa Cave and Seeta Bishundial.
