Testimony begins in policeman?s rape trial

The trial of a police officer accused of rape began in the Supreme Court today. A seven man, two woman jury was empanelled and then heard testimony from a nineteen year old woman. She said, under oath, that on the night of March thirteenth, 2004 police officer Crispin Jeffries Jr. had deejayed at a function and afterwards she and two other girls, including her sister, joined Jeffries and two other men at the Diamond Hotel at mile four on the Northern Highway. She said the other girls paired off with the two men and her sister suggested she go to a room with Jeffries. The woman told the court she felt safe since he was a police officer and she told him she will go in quote “just to talk.” But she says when they got into the room he removed his shirt and shoes and then began struggling with her. She alleges that he pulled down her jeans and raped her. She was the only witness called today in the case, which continues on Tuesday.