Right now, A jury of 7 men and 2 women is deliberating the fate of 33 year old Bert Vasquez - who is being tried for forcible abduction and aggravated assault of an indecent nature against a girl who was 16 years old at the time. Justice Adolph Lucas gave the jury his summation this afternoon and the jury went in after 4:00 pm.
The victim - whose name the judge said cannot be released - is now 22 years old. She testified that at 8:00 on the night of May 13, 2011, she was near Pound Yard Bridge waiting for a bus when Vasquez arrived. She said he approached, put a gun to her side and told her to walk with him and don't scream, otherwise he will shoot her.
She testified that when she got into the car he drove her to Vista Del Mar and he began to choke her and he tried to take off her clothes. She said she fought and kicked him and he punched her several times until she gave up fighting. She said he then stripped her, and told her he will kill her because she is of no use to him. She testified that he then forced her to perform oral sex on him. After that, he told her to run and she dashed to a woman's house where she sought refuge.
For his part, Bert Vasquez gave a statement from the dock in which he said that at the time of the incident he was with his mother, Debbie Vasquez, at her house. She testified and corroborated his alibi statement. Vasquez is being represented by attorney Oscar Selgado while the Crown is being represented by Crown Counsel Sherigne Rodriguez.
As has been widely reported, Vasquez also faces a murder charge for the murder of 13 year old Jasmine Lowe, whose body was found on a farm in Cristo Rey Village in 2012.
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