Jury forewoman says rape case lacked evidence

YOUNGSTOWN — The trial of Keith Nunez was a he-said, she-said case, with no other eyewitness testimony as to what occurred, according to the forewoman of the jury that acquitted him of raping a 14-year-old girl.

“We did not feel that the prosecution gave us enough evidence,” to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt on either of the two rape counts lodged against Nunez, said Brenda Holt of Poland.

The seven-woman, five-man jury rendered its verdict in the trial of Nunez, 19, of Porter Avenue, Campbell, Wednesday afternoon after deliberating a little more than an hour.

The three-day trial was conducted by Judge Timothy E. Franken of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

“They could have had more people testify in order to give us more information,” Holt said.

“We did not feel as though the people that were present in the room, who could have brought forward more information, were brought forward for us to hear testimony, so it was her word against his,” Holt said, referring to the alleged victim and Nunez. “We had nothing from a doctor,” she added.

Read more in Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com