Courts / Cork / Report

Jury ordered to acquit Derulo tour rape accused of all charges

Date
2018-01-29

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Cork City

County
Cork

Summary

In a 12‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court, Judge Paul Butler directed a jury to acquit a 35‑year‑old man of all charges of rape, oral rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment against a 19‑year‑old woman. The judge cited the failure to swab the accused's neck for DNA as a serious risk of an unfair trial, and noted that the accused had claimed the complainant had kissed him on the neck, a claim the woman denied. The accused had pleaded not guilty. The prosecution had also dropped all charges against a 44‑year‑old co‑accused due to insufficient evidence. The judge's direction ended the trial, and the jury was excused from service for ten years. The case involved allegations that the woman was forced onto a tour bus after a Jason Derulo concert and was assaulted by two men, but the accused denied all allegations.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury ordered to acquit Derulo tour rape accused of all charges. Charges or matters: rape, oral rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment of the then 19-year-old woman. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
June 27, 2014 Incident
2018-01-29 Publication

Why: Last Wednesday Timothy O'Leary SC, prosecuting, told the jury that the Director of Public Prosecutions was dropping all charges against a 44-year-old co-accused because of insufficient evidence. Prosecution account reported by CNI