Man Cleared On All Six Counts In Trial Over Alleged Offences Against 13-Year-Old
Alric Lindsay 
By Alric Lindsay
A jury in the Grand Court today, September 4, 2026, acquitted a man of all six counts of an indictment alleging sexual offences against a 13-year-old girl.
The defendant, who cannot be publicly named due to media reporting restrictions, was found not guilty on counts 1 through 4, each alleging indecent assault contrary to section 132 of the Penal Code; not guilty on count 5, alleging inviting a child to participate in sexual activity; and not guilty on count 6, alleging abuse of a position of trust contrary to section 228L of the Penal Code. The verdicts were delivered at 11:10 am today after five hours and ten minutes of deliberation.
The Crown’s case, presented by Orrett Brown of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, had been that the offending occurred over a period of roughly a fortnight in late May and early June 2025.
The count of abuse of trust alleged that the defendant occupied a position of responsibility toward the complainant at the time of the conduct alleged. Section 228L of the Penal Code is engaged where an adult in a defined relationship of responsibility toward a young person engages in sexual communication with that child, or engages with that child in an activity that is sexual in nature.The defendant denied the charges throughout and was represented by Lee Halliday-Davis.
In directions given before the jury delivered its verdict today, Justice Peters told the panel to work towards a unanimous verdict, and indicated that if unanimity did not appear possible, a majority of five of the seven jurors would be sufficient. She directed that a verdict be returned on each count. The judge reminded jurors that assessments of credibility, reliability and truthfulness were theirs alone to make, and that they were to rely on their own conclusions on those matters in reaching their verdicts.
Following the not guilty verdicts, Justice Peters told the defendant he was free to go.
Reporting restrictions protecting the identity of the complainant remain in force.
