Athough a policeman was freed yesterday of sexual assault charges, he will remain behind bars until the charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice has been disposed of.

Constable Newton Bentley, 48, who is attached to Mobile Reserve, Harman Barracks, was freed yesterday of carnal abuse and indecent assault.

The jury retired for an hour and found him not guilty of the charges.

The Crown led evidence in the Home Circuit Court that sometime in 2004 the policeman sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl. The girl who is now 16 years related her ordeal to the jury.

No lies

Cross-examined by defence lawyer Dwight Reece, the girl admitted that on several occasions she had told lies. She said she was speaking the truth in relation to the incident.

Bentley, in his defence said he was innocent of the charges. It is alleged that he took the girl to another parish in an effort to prevent her from attending court.

Mrs. Justice Marva McDonald Bishop presided at the trial in the Home Circuit Court.