The alleged victim took to the witness stand today as the trial of George Lamar McLawrence, of 7th Avenue, Skeetes Road, Ivy, St Michael, who is accused of indecent assault and abduction, began.
McLawrence has denied assaulting the then 11-year-old boy and unlawfully taking him against his will with intent to have sexual intercourse with him on January 25, 2009.
However, the alleged victim testified before a nine-member jury in the No 5 Supreme Court today that on the aforementioned date, he was walking along Independence Drive, Husbands, St James around 12 p.m., heading to a canteen in the area, when a ZR stopped and the driver asked if he wanted a ride to his destination.
He agreed and climbed into the front passenger seat.
However, he said, the driver drove past his stop and took him on the road next to the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology. It was there that the driver informed him that he was going to “pass water” and left the vehicle.
The complainant said a security guard came and said they could not stop the vehicle there, but “I stood there because I was really scared”.
He said McLawrence then drove him to a hedge near Prior Park, St James, stopped the vehicle and told him to come into the back.
The complainant also explained that he could not get away because the door was to his back, the hedges were on the side and the accused was blocking the other point of exit.
“So I got in [the back]. He sat in the seat behind the front passenger seat [and] . . . . I was standing in front of him. He pulled down my pants and underwear. I was uncomfortable and scared and he touched my bottom. I started struggling with him [and managed to] pull up my pants and ran out,” the alleged victim said, adding that he ran all the way home.
“I called to my mom and I was crying and I was very scared. She asked me, ‘what happened?’ and I couldn’t say because I was scared and ashamed,” he recalled, saying that his mother then called the police after he was able to tell her what had occurred.
He also told the court that his mother, who died two years ago, took him to the District ‘C’ Police Station to identify the culprit two days later.
Under cross-examination by McLawrence, who is self represented, the alleged victim was adamant that it was the accused who committed the act after taking him against his will.
When asked why he did not scream for help, the young man said: “I was very scared”.
The case, which is being prosecuted by Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Anthony Blackman and Senior Crown Counsel Krystal Delaney continues before Madam Justice Pamela Beckles on Friday.
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