ONE of the two Hampshire men accused of abducting a teenage girl has been acquitted without having to say a word in his defence.
At the close of the prosecution’s case at Southampton Crown Court, Judge Peter Ralls QC accepted a defence submission that Shane Saunders had no case to answer because there was no evidence he knew she was 15.
The judge then directed the jury to find Mr Saunders, 24, of Ash Close, Hythe, not guilty and he was discharged.
The prosecution had claimed Mr Saunders and Anthony Chick took advantage of the girl’s vulnerability to take away from the control of her mother for about a week.
Asked by barrister Alistair Wright about what contact he would have had with her had he known she was 15, Chick, 28, of Beech Crescent, Hythe, replied: “None at all.”
He said he had believed the girl to be 18.
Jurors were expected to retire today to consider their verdict.
Proceeding
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article