Jury fails to reach a verdict on rape charge (From The Northern Echo)
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Jury fails to reach a verdict on rape charge
5:47pm Thursday 14th February 2013 in News
A JURY has cleared a man of perverting the course of justice and of assault by beating, but failed to reach a verdict on a rape charge.
Matthew Landells, 24, of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham was found not guilty of the two charges after a three day trial and several hours of deliberation by the jury at Teesside Crown Court today (Thursday, February 14).
The jury was discharged after failing to agree a majority verdict on the rape charge and the case is due back at crown court next Friday (February 22) to allow the prosecution to consider its position.
Mr Landells was released on bail until then under the conditions that he resides at an address on Ann Swyft Road, Newton Aycliffe, and does not contact his accuser.
