Forty six year old Manuel Fernandez, a man with one arm who was convicted of rape, was acquitted yesterday in the court of Justice Denis Hanomansingh in the Supreme Court in Corozal Town.
The prosecution, represented by senior Crown Counsel Cecil Ramirez, offered no further evidence when the complainant, a 40 year old grandmother, did not appear in court.
As a result, Justice Hanomansingh directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
The incident occurred on September 2, 2007, in Orange Walk Town. The woman said she was sitting in front of her house with her grandchildren when Fernandez, a family friend arrived. She said Fernandez dragged her to the back of the yard, and she lost consciousness when her head hit a rock. She claimed that Fernandez raped her while she was knocked out.
In October, 2009 Fernandez was convicted of rape and sentenced to 10 years. He appealed and Belize Court of Appeal ordered a retrial.
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