Protester Lovell Marriott has been acquitted of being an idle and disorderly person by the Summary Court.
Marriott, 53, who was accused of indecently exposing herself during a one-woman protest in January 2022, was acquitted by Magistrate Vanessa Allard following a day-long trial last week.
She was initially arrested outside the foyer of the Government Administration Building after a security officer allegedly told a police officer that he had seen her exposing her genitalia – which led to her being arrested and charged with indecent exposure and idle and disorderly conduct.
In August 2023, she first stood trial on those charges. However, that trial was aborted midway after she it was discovered that she had taken pictures of the judge, witnesses and Cayman Compass staff.
A retrial was ordered and in January 2023 the prosecution chose not to proceed on the charge of indecent exposure, opting instead to press ahead with the single charge of idle and disorderly conduct – the particulars of which still alleged indecent exposure.
During her half-day trial on 29 Jan., during which Marriott represented herself, the prosecution called several police officers who each told the court they did not personally witness the alleged indecent exposure.
CCTV footage of the entrance to the Government Administration Building showed Marriott walking to-and-fro, at times gyrating and dancing provocatively. However, the alleged offence was also not captured on video.
The security officer who claimed to have witnessed the indecent exposure did not attend the proceeding due to undisclosed medical complications.
In the end, Allard acquitted Marriott of the charge, and revoked all bail conditions.
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