Jowad Haji, a 24-year-old Kurdish barber from Coventry, has been found not guilty of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, assault by penetration and intentional strangulation. Jurors at Warwick Crown Court took just over an hour to reach their verdict on Friday afternoon.
Haji, of Park Street, Coventry, had been accused of attacking a woman in a Stratford-upon-Avon barbershop in January after offering her a job there. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, reported the alleged attack to police weeks later, leading to Haji's arrest in February.
Defence account and evidence
During the trial, Haji, an Iraqi national who gave evidence with the help of a Kurdish interpreter, said he had met the woman several times before and the pair had previously hugged and kissed. He claimed that on the day of the alleged attack, she followed him to the back of the barbershop when he went to get a drink, hugged him from behind and told him she had missed him.
Haji said the pair kissed until the woman's friend returned to the shop, and then they left, saying goodbye to him on the way out. He denied doing anything “bad” to the woman, who had previously given him a massage when he complained of a sore shoulder. He said the pair had a “close relationship” but he did not find her sexually attractive and denied ever sexually assaulting her.
Prosecution cross-examination and police cooperation
Asked by prosecution counsel Simon Hunka during cross-examination if it was his account that he had always been “perfectly nice and friendly” to the woman, Haji said: “Yes, correct, I was nice to her, I would never in my life do something wrong.”
Haji, who has no convictions, had co-operated with police and handed over his Pin number when police seized his phone after he was arrested, but there were no records of any conversations with the woman on Snapchat.
Judge's remarks after verdict
Addressing Haji in the dock after the verdicts were returned, Judge Mr Recorder Anthony Warner said: “Mr Haji, that is it, the jury has acquitted you. The case is over. I expect you will have to go downstairs to sign a piece of paper, but you should then be released in a short period of time.”
The judge thanked jurors for their time on the case, saying: “You came and you did your duty and that is all we can ask of you. I have enjoyed working with you and thank-you so much for your care and attention to this case.”
