Kenosha teen to get new trial after found guilty of sexual assault

Martel Lee, 16, who was found guilty of second-degree sexual assault, will have a new trial after the judge declared a mistrial.

Based on jurors’ letters and court records, the judge vacated the earlier guilty verdict, saying it was a “miscarriage of justice.”

Since Lee was initially convicted, A series of inconsistencies had led not only to the community questioning Lee’s conviction, but also to questioning the three jurors who heard the case.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim repeatedly changed important details about the incident and briefly retracted her statement.

Court documents show one juror wrote a letter to the judge after the verdict, saying he felt “bullied” in voting for the guilty verdict. He also noted that some jurors “slept and locked themselves in the bathroom” to avoid participating in deliberations.

Other documents reveal that jurors who favored a not guilty verdict were told that those who favored a guilty verdict would “make the decision themselves so they can all go home.”

Watch: Jurors, community question guilty verdict in Kenosha teen’s case

Calls for justice grow as jurors and community question guilty verdict in Kenosha teen’s case

“Enough is enough. We cannot stand this in our community and allow our children, our young women and our community to be afraid of the justice system,” said city councilman Kenny Harper.

Lee was accused of sexually assaulting a classmate in an Indian Trail High School restroom in April of this year. He was tried as an adult this summer and found guilty. Lee has been in jail since his arrest last spring.

Tanya McLean of Leaders of Kenosha said they “will support 16-year-old Martel Lee to help share his story.”

Lee’s mother, Jennifer Jones, said she hopes the judge will grant a new trial. “Everyone can clearly see that my son is innocent. When you read the original crime report, you will see that my son is innocent,” Jones said.

The next hearing of the case will be held on November 26.

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