Jury in Rape Trial of B.D.F. Lieutenant is Discharged

Ruhesi Elijio

In the Supreme Court today, the rape trial of B.D.F. Lieutenant Ruhesi Elijio was abruptly stopped and the jury discharged. Elijio will remain on interdiction from the force since his case has been traversed to the next sitting of Supreme Court in April of this year. His trial began since Monday of this week, but this morning the forelady informed Justice Troadio Gonzalez that a member of the jury made some remarks which no doubt would prejudice the case in favour of the accused. When the alleged victim took the witness stand, the juror reportedly blurted that the victim was telling lies, which meant in the view of the judge, that the juror had formed his own opinion even before the victim could had concluded her testimony. Prosecutor in the case, Sheneiza Smith had already called two witnesses in the case and the court had also visited the location being the Price Barracks in Ladyville where the twenty-three year old victim alleges she was raped five years ago in 2011. Elijio has denied the allegation claiming he didn’t violate the woman.