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A Carapichaima man has been acquitted of rape and unlawful sexual intercourse with a female between the ages of 14 and 16 after the alleged victim indicated she no longer wished to pursue the case.

The trial began on May 19, but when the alleged victim failed to attend court and the prosecution’s final witness – a crime scene officer – was unable to testify due to illness, prosecutors were forced to close their case.

Justice Gail Gonzales then directed the jury to return not-guilty verdicts on both counts on May 21.