A medical doctor practising in Port Antonio, Portland, wept openly in the Home Circuit Court last week after he was freed of a rape charge.

Dr Oral Kirkland was accused of sexually assaulting a patient at his office in November 2010.

Defence lawyers Carl McDonald and Tameka Jordan, in addressing the seven-member jury, called for the doctor to be freed because there were too many inconsistencies in the prosecution's case.

The lawyers argued that there were inconsistencies and contradictions in the report that the complainant gave to the police and more inconsistencies in her testimony in court.

Kirland, in his defence, denied committing the offence.

The prosecution had applied for the case to be transferred to Kingston because the doctor was well known in Portland.

After Supreme Court Judge Sarah Thompson James completed her summation, the jury retired for one hour and 20 minutes and returned a not-guilty verdict.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com