Jury Considers Child Sex Case Verdict

JURY OUT IN CHILD SEX CASE

The jury in the case of a British man accused of flying to the US to have sex with a six-year-old girl has retired to consider its verdict.

John Brewer, from Plymouth, has denied that he travelled to Minnesota to have an improper relationship with the child.


He said he flew to Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport to convince a woman to abandon a plot for them both to abuse the child.

Brewer's lawyer told the jury that convicting an "innocent" man would be as bad as abusing a child.

"It's just as much a tragedy to wrongfully convict somebody as it is to molest a child," said Scott Tilsen, defending.

But the prosecution refuted claims that Brewer was trying to talk his potential co-conspirator out of committing the crime.

"This is about John Brewer's state of mind. It's not about what might be real; what matters is what Mr Brewer believes," said Assistant US Attorney Tracy Braun.

Brewer flew to Minnesota before Christmas last year after allegedly receiving messages from a woman who said he could have a relationship with both her and a young girl, the court has heard.

But Brewer, who met the woman on the internet, was detained when his flight landed.

Brewer was charged with aggravated sexual abuse on suspicion that he went to Minnesota to "engage in a sexual act with a person who has not attained the age of 12 years".

He was arrested on December 13 at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport.

The jury is continuing its deliberations.