The defendant was charged with sexual assault and sexual interference concerning his five-year-old granddaughter.
The allegations arose during an acrimonious family law dispute between the complainant's parents over custody, access, and support.
The complainant disclosed the allegations to her mother, who reported them to police.
Although the judge generally accepted the core allegations made by the complainant, the defendant was acquitted due to numerous factors that eroded the strength of the prosecution's case, including credibility concerns regarding both parents, material inconsistencies in the complainant's evidence, a surreptitious recording made by the complainant's father, and the complainant's challenging demeanor at trial.
