Corentyne teacher freed of rape charges

Zafiel Yusuf
Zafiel Yusuf

A Corentyne private school teacher was yesterday found not guilty of two counts of rape, at the end of a jury trial in the High Court in Berbice.

Zafiel Yusuf, 27, of Fyrish Village, Corentyne, was on trial before a mixed jury and Justice Jo Ann Barlow in the High Court.

In April, 2017, Yusuf was charged with two counts of raping a child under 16-years-old. However, yesterday, the jury unanimously found Yusuf not guilty on both counts. The state was represented by attorney Mandel Moore, while Yusuf was represented by attorney Charlyn Artiga.  The defence called four persons— including the accused— to testify, while the prosecution called nine witnesses to the stand.