ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — A 39-year-old steel worker was on Thursday acquitted of two counts of indecent assault following a trial in the St Catherine Parish Court, before presiding judge Justice English-Myers.

Robert Wallace, who had been charged with two separate allegations of indecent assault involving a minor, was freed after the judge found that the prosecution’s case was marked by inconsistencies and lacked the credibility required for a conviction.

“This judgment reinforces the principle that a person cannot be convicted unless the Crown satisfies the burden of proof. My client maintained his innocence from the very beginning, and today the Court confirmed that the evidence simply did not support the allegations. These matters are serious, and false or misguided accusations can have lasting and devastating consequences on people’s lives and families. I urge members of the public to act responsibly and to avoid making unfounded claims,” said Wallace’s attorney, Rodain Richardson.

According to the prosecution, the complainant alleged that Wallace touched her on two occasions, one in December 2023 and another in May 2024, while visiting family members. The Crown relied primarily on the complainant’s testimony and that of her older sister.

During cross-examination, Richardson highlighted major discrepancies that, according to the defence, collapsed the foundation of the Crown’s case. The complainant admitted to giving a false statement to the police regarding how the door opened during the alleged first incident, a contradiction the judge described as material and troubling.

The complainant’s timeline reportedly shifted repeatedly, with confusion about whether the alleged December incident occurred before or after an ongoing family dispute. English-Myers noted that the timing appeared coincidental and said the evidence suggested the allegations may have arisen in the context of the household conflict.

Under further questioning, the complainant’s sister conceded that parts of her written statement, including claims of discomfort and inappropriate looks, were not true. She also acknowledged having a good relationship with Wallace up to the family disagreement, leading the judge to treat her evidence with caution.

The complainant also testified that she did not scream, cry out, or react during either alleged incident and made no report to her grandmother, father, sister, or anyone in Jamaica at the time. English-Myers found this behaviour inconsistent with the seriousness of the allegations and stated that the complainant’s account was not supported by her conduct.

The grandmother, who was reportedly present in the home during the period in question, gave evidence that the complainant was never left alone with Wallace and rarely visited, further weakening the prosecution’s narrative.
In delivering her ruling, Justice English-Myers held that the complainant was not a credible witness, citing contradictions, shifting timelines, and unsupported claims. She concluded that the Crown had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and the defendant was acquitted on both counts.

After the verdict, Wallace quietly thanked his attorney for always standing by him and believing in his case, before leaving the courtroom to be reunited with his family.