Tuesday, January 8 2013

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ACCUSED DOCTOR: Dr David Ali leaves the San Fernando High Court yesterday after he went on trial for rape and one count of grievous sexual assault. He...

SAN FERNANDO gynaecologist, Dr David Ali, yesterday pleaded not guilty before a judge and jury in the High Court, San Fernando, to a charge of rape.

Presiding in the first such case against a medical doctor, is Justice Mark Mohammed.

Ali, 60, who is owner of the Gulf View Nursing Home, was charged in 2003 with the rape of a woman. Ali also pleaded not guilty to another charge of grievous sexual assault on the same woman.

Yesterday, Mohammed selected a panel of nine jurors and six alternates, to try Ali on the two-count indictment. One of the alternates was discharged. After the jury was empanelled, the charges were read to the gynaecologist and he pleaded not guilty to both counts — rape and grievous sexual assault.

Ali was represented by attorney John Heath who held for Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal.

Mohammed postponed the hearing of the trial to Thursday, when Senior State Attorney Tricia Hudlin-Cooper, will present the opening address to the jury in which she would outline the basic facts of the case.

Ali is a specialist gynaecologist and practises his profession at the Gulf View Medical Complex. He is on $100,000 bail.