The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of having sex with his mother told a jury yesterday he had no knowledge of the alleged incident, which, according to a physician, left the victim in disbelief, feeling withdrawn and distraught.

Responding to questions from his lawyer Dorsey McPhee, the 33-year-old accused also denied ever having thoughts about having sex with his mother.

The accused, whose identity cannot be published for the protection of the complainant’s identity, is accused of committing the crime in their New Providence home on January 10, 2012. He is accused of forcing himself on his mother.

The complainant has not taken the witness stand. Instead, her statement was read into evidence by a female police officer who took her statement on the day in question.

According to evidence heard in court, the 65-year-old victim and her son went to bed after 10pm on January 9, both fully dressed. The woman slept in the bed and her son on a makeshift bed on the floor.

The woman said her son woke her around midnight, undressed her and had sex with her despite her attempts to push him away.

Prior to the son taking the witness stand yesterday, the Crown closed its case with the evidence of a physician who told the court that the accused had frequented hospital because of epileptic seizures.

The physician also read the contents of a medical report conducted on the complainant on the day in question.

The physician noted the woman, who was examined at 1pm, had suffered scrapes, cuts, bruising and bleeding to the vagina. Tenderness to the vagina and anus was also noted. However, no semen or discharge was found.

The report noted that the woman was experiencing feelings of disbelief, distraught and was withdrawn.

When the accused was cross-examined by prosecutor Anthony Delaney, he only said that he and his mother were home on the night in question.

However, he said he could not recall what happened after he went to sleep and only remembers waking up in the hospital because of the medicine he received.

He also admitted that he did not take his medication for his seizures regularly as doctors had ordered him to do in the past.

“You realise you put yourself in danger by not taking your medication?” Mr Delaney asked.

“Yes, sir,” the accused answered.

“You also realise you put others in a dangerous situation if you don’t take your medication, correct?” the prosecutor then asked.

“No, sir,” the accused replied.

Mr Delaney suggested to the accused that he woke his mother up early on the morning in question. However, the accused said he did not remember this happening.

“You pushed her down on the bed . . . You forced her to sit up as you took her sweater off,” the prosecutor told him. The accused again denied all knowledge of any of this happening.

The prosecutor suggested to him that he sexually assaulted his mother for nearly six hours while holding her hostage. The accused denied knowledge of this and said it was due to one of his worst morning seizures.

A verdict is expected today when the trial ends before Justice Indra Charles.