Haneytown man acquitted of sex charges
Trial judge said credibility, reliability issues with female complainant’s evidence meant she couldn’t decide if she should believe her or defendant, Mathew Peter Robert Gratton, 30
Conflicting evidence, a lack of details and evidence that fell outside the parameters of the charges led a judge to find a Haneytown man not guilty Thursday of sex-related charges dating back a decade.
Mathew Peter Robert Gratton, 30, of Broad Road, was surrounded by family in Fredericton provincial court Thursday to hear Judge Lyne Raymond’s decision on his trial.
The RCMP had charged him with counts of sexual assault and sexual interference involving an underage girl in Haneytown between Dec. 17, 2012, and Dec. 31, 2016, allegations he denied last year.
A court order prohibits the publication or broadcast of information that would tend to identify the complainant.