“Sir Jackson” not guilty on one sexual activity with a child charge; Jury hung on three others

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the other three similar charges with nine jurors voting not guilty while three jurors voted guilty.

“Sir Jackson” not guilty on one sexual activity with a child charge; Jury hung on three others

Former teacher at The Bishops’ High School, Coen Jackson was found not guilty on one of four charges related to alleged sexual activity with a child by abusing a position of trust.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the other three similar charges with nine jurors voting not guilty while three jurors voted guilty.

The Judge in the matter indicated that Jackson will likely have to face a retrial on the three charges at the next session of the High Court.

The decision by the jury came after just over a week of testimonies in the in-camera hearing.

Jackson was first charged in 2018 after the Director of Public Prosecutions recommended the charge following a Police investigation.

The charges were first leveled against Jackson on social media by then Cultural Advisor to the Guyana Government Ruel Johnson who was at the time involved in a relationship with an ex-girlfriend of Jackson.

Jackson had always maintained his innocence of the charges although he admitted at a press conference that he was involved in a relationship with two former students but those relationships blossomed after they were no longer at school and above the age of 18.

After he was charged in connection with sexual activity with a child by abusing a position of trust, he filed a private civil suit against Ruel Johnson over his Facebook statements. The High Court recently ruled in Jackson’s favour in that lawsuit, ordering Johnson to pay over $5 million for defaming his character.

The entire sexual offences trial was held behind closed doors in the Sexual Offences Court and away from the media. Details of the various testimonies delivered during the trial were not made available to the media.

Jackson was represented by Attorneys Nigel Hughes, Jerome Khan and Savannah Barnwell.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login