BishopAccountability.org
	Priest Not Guilty of Rape By Denyse Renne Express July 10, 2009 http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161502568 Roman Catholic priest Enel Almeus looked smugly at the woman who accused him of rape as he exited the prisoners' dock of the Port of Spain Sixth Criminal Court after being told he was a free man. Haitian-born Almeus, of the Holy Ghost Fathers Church, was found not guilty by a nine-member jury around 3.30 p.m. yesterday. He was charged with raping the wife of a police officer sometime on March 19, 2004, at St Mary's College in Port of Spain, where he teaches and lives. The jury, which comprised six men and three women, took just over two hours to arrive at a verdict. When asked by Justice Andre Mon Desir if a verdict was agreed upon, the foreperson said "yes". Stating the verdict was not guilty, the accuser sat with a blank expression, while her husband, with a shocked expression, shook his head. Told by Mon Desir that he was now a free man, Almeus opened the door of the prisoner's dock, looked at his accused, mumbled something and walked out the courtroom. His actions brought a stern look from the husband of the woman who had made the allegation. Standing outside the courtroom, Almeus anxiously awaited his defence team which was led by Senior Counsel Desmond Allum. However, making their exit out the courtroom first was the alleged victim and her husband. Glaring at Almeus, and his hand wrapped around his wife, the police officer walked and sat at nearby benches where he comforted her. Almeus, meanwhile, was smiling and embracing his defence team. Approached for a comment shortly after exiting the Hall of Justice, Almeus declined to say anything. Attorneys Rajiv Persad and John Heath also appeared on behalf of Almeus, while Senior Counsel Israel Khan, SC, and Debra James represented the State. It was the State's case that Almeus had sexual intercourse with the woman without her consent. But at the start of the trial, which heard the testimonies of five witnesses, Almeus maintained the sex was consensual. Contact: drenne@trinidadexpress.com
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