Man and minor walk in bizarre sexual assault case

One of the more bizarre sexual assault cases of last year has resulted in the dismissal of charges against two defendants. Twenty-two year old Clive Hyde and an eleven year old boy left the court of Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord unsullied today after the prosecution indicated that the alleged victim–and main witness–could not be located. Hyde and the eleven year old had been accused of aggravated assault, in this instance the indecent assault of a minor. The charges arose from an incident in July of 2004 when a fourteen year old girl told police that she had gone to visit a female friend her own age, but while in her friend’s house Hyde and the supposed friend attacked her, tearing off her clothes. The young woman then held a knife to the victim’s neck while Hyde and the eleven year old boy fondled her. The complainant eventually escaped.

While Hyde and his alleged accomplice go free, the fourteen year old girl who did not show up for trial, remains charged with aggravated assault, abetment to commit aggravated assault, and damage to property. She will face justice as soon as police can find her.