Alleged Tamarac "Romeo Rapist" Acquitted Of Sexual Battery
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - A Tamarac man investigators called the Romeo Rapist has been acquitted of sexual battery at his first trial.
Andre Beadle broke down and let out a huge cry when the verdict was announced.
Beadle a former security guard at a downtown Ft. Lauderdale Publix store was accused of raping a woman he met at the store in June 2011. He was charged with sexual battery and battery.
The woman gave teary testimony at the trial and accused Beadle of biting her on the neck and arms and then sexually assaulting her in his apartment.
Beadle denied the charges.
He goes back to jail to await trial on two other cases.
"It's a big hurdle," said Beadle's attorney Lee Friedland after the verdict was read.
"I think the jury followed the instructions to focus on the facts and recognize she had believability issues," said Friedland. "He's confident when he faces the next trials the the accusers will be show to be not reliable. I think when they evaluate the credibility of the accusers and see there are other motivations, they will feel differently."
"At least one accuser has a lawsuit against Publix and Wackenhut," said Friedland.
Friedberg contends some of the accusers are after money from big corporations.
During closing arguments prosecutors said that after all the testimony Beadle's presumption of innocence was shattered.
"As far as he's concerned he might ask you but your answer doesn't matter he is "to take what he wants," said prosecutor Katya Pisman.
But Friedberg said the accuser's testimony was riddled with inconsistencies.
"You might forget some of the nuances but what you don't forget is the crime itself," said Friedland.
