Man to be tried again for rape
Published 12:22 am Thursday, September 26, 2013
A Rose Hill man will face a jury for the second time next month on allegations he raped a 15-year-old girl in 2012 after his August trial ended with a hung jury.
Russell Griggs, 56, is charged with second-degree rape and enticing a child for immoral purposes.
The victim’s mother alleged that when she arrived at the Holley Road home she walked in on Griggs having sex with her daughter in the home’s back bedroom. She said Griggs fled the scene. Griggs was located hours later at home six miles away and apprehended after he fled a second time.
During the trial, the victim testified to Griggs’ identifying tattoos that could only be seen by someone during an intimate physical encounter; however, the defense maintained that since the victim testimony of the location tattoos on Griggs’ pelvic area was slightly off and that one tattoo was located on Griggs’ forearm not leg, it was proof that the allegations against him were false.
Court dockets show that Griggs, who is represented by David Baker, is scheduled for trial on Oct. 21 in front of Judge Ashley McKathan.
–Stephanie Nelson