Jury Deliberation Underway In Decades-Old Rape Trial
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – A jury started deliberating Wednesday in the trial of a man accused of raping a woman more than 30 years ago.
They deliberated for 2 and half hours before being let out for the day.
They're trying to decide if Dobie Hunter raped a 16-year-old girl back in 1985.
Over the two days of his trial, Hunter has shown little reaction and chose not to testify.
Just a day before the alleged victim faced Hunter.
The woman was 16-years-old, walking near her home in Fort Lauderdale when she says Hunter dragged her into his car and then raped her repeatedly at knife-point. She says Hunter then took her to an apartment where he raped her again.
The woman was treated and a rape kit processed, but there was never an arrest until three years ago. That's when BSO investigators did DNA testing and say they got a match with Hunter, who is a registered sex offender
DNA experts, the defense, and prosecution disagreed on the results and that's a question for the jury.
But Hunter, who's now an amputee in a wheelchair, denies all charges.
He says independent DNA testing clears him.
"Thirty-two years later, you cannot hide from DNA evidence," said Prosecutor Patyl Oflazian.
"One in every 368 males will have that DNA," said Defense Attorney Clement Dean.
The jury will start deliberating again Thursday morning.
