Man cleared of sexual abuse of 8-year old, accidental touching “misinterpreted” by victim

A man on Monday was cleared of sexually abusing an eight-year-old child after a court concluded that the girl might have misinterpreted the accidental gestures of the accused whilst playing with children in the shallow waters of Pretty Bay. The alleged incident had taken place in July last year when the 40-year old had been spending the day with his young niece and other relatives at the beach. His niece’s friend, an 8-year old girl who used to spend time at a Church home, had been one of a group of 20 children on an outing with the nuns and other helpers. The man had spent time playing with the two girls in shallow water, lifting them and throwing them playfully, in view of other bathers. Later that evening, upon returning to her family home, the girl had confided with her mother that her friend’s uncle, - the accused - had touched her indecently several times, once even slipping his finger inside her panty, besides brushing his private parts against her thighs. A report was filed and criminal charges for sexual abuse and defilement of the minor were instituted against the man. He protested his innocence all along, insisting that he might have only accidentally brushed against...