Yahoo Finance Jury in the trial of police officer accused of raping woman fail to reach verdict
A jury in the trial of a police officer accused of raping a woman and sexually assaulting another he met on a dating website has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict.
Michael Darbyshire, 55, had gone on trial charged with one count of rape and five counts of sexual assault at Worcester Crown Court.
The West Mercia Police officer had been accused of attacking both women to demonstrate "control, power and to satisfy his own sexual cravings."
On Wednesday, the jury failed to reach a majority verdict following seven hours and 38 minutes of deliberations.
Judge James Burbidge QC discharged the jury and ordered a retrial to be held at the same court on 28 February next year.
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A court heard the first alleged victim claimed to have been molested in the beer garden of the White Hart pub in Fernhill Heath, Worcestershire, before being raped back at her home where he "stripped completely naked".
A second victim said she was attacked after agreeing to meet up with him over dating website Match.com.
Former army veteran Darbyshire denied the allegations and claimed both women had fully consented to sexual activity with him during the seven-day trial.
Darbyshire was granted bail until and told by the judge: "Mr Darbyshire the jury were unable to agree upon the verdict.
"As a result of that I have discharged them from returning verdicts in this case.
"It is customary for the prosecution to seek to retrial someone where the jury has not returned a verdict on issues in the case.
"The Crown will now consider their position at the moment they are minded to try you again."
