By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A high school track and field coach broke down in court yesterday as prosecutors and the defence wrapped up their cases in his trial over the alleged sexual assault of an underaged male student four years ago.

Prosecutors allege Robert Ayton, 54, touched the complainant inappropriately on the Cricket Club field between October 1 and 31, 2019, and later had sexual relations with him at his home and at the Doris Johnson High School gym on two occasions between June 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021. The complainant was between 14 and 15 at the time.

Ayton faces two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor of the same sex and one count of indecent assault. He is appearing before Justice Guillimina Archer-Minns.

Ayton wept silently as his attorney, Mario Gray, closed the defence’s case. Mr Gray noted his client also cried during his police interview.

The attorney reminded jurors that the case had stretched across two weeks of testimony and that his client had lived under the weight of the allegations for two years. He stressed the complainant only disclosed the alleged abuse to his mother by text in 2023.

Mr Gray highlighted conflicting testimony, particularly over who picked the complainant up from track meets. He said the complainant said his mother was the only one who did, but also claimed he sometimes relied on a friend, who later testified he was never asked for rides.

The defence also pointed to inconsistencies in the complainant’s account of an alleged incident at the Cricket Club. Mr Gray said the complainant once testified that he walked away after Ayton touched him because it made him feel “weird”, but elsewhere said he was told to “walk it off” as part of a healing process.

He further questioned contradictions in the complainant’s claims about being forced to perform oral sex at knifepoint, noting the teen alternated between saying Ayton threatened to expose him to a friend and saying Ayton threatened the friend would be next.

Mr Gray pressed jurors to consider why the complainant continued going to Ayton’s home after the alleged abuse, suggesting the teen’s explanation — that Ayton took his phone — was unconvincing. He also noted inconsistencies in the complainant’s stated age at the time.

The defence cast doubt on allegations that Ayton pinned the teen with one hand while simultaneously applying lotion, penetrating him with a finger, and putting on a condom. Mr Gray argued the physical differences between the two made this implausible, stressing the complainant was a fit young athlete.

He insisted the complainant was lying, describing the account as “out of this world”, and reminded jurors that Ayton voluntarily went to police and cooperated fully.

Prosecutors countered that the complainant delayed reporting because of shame and had no reason to testify falsely. They said his testimony was credible, noting he was underaged during the alleged incidents.

They argued Ayton and the complainant’s friend were not trustworthy witnesses, pointing to continued contact between the two and claiming Ayton coached him on what to say.

Prosecutors told jurors Ayton was trying to “play” them and dismissed his explanation that the complainant knew what his house looked like from Zoom calls or beach meetings. They argued those would not have revealed the details the complainant described, including a bathroom in the defendant’s bedroom.

They said it was inappropriate for underaged athletes to be in Ayton’s home and pointed out the complainant was the only one who could say there was a bathroom in his bedroom.

Prosecutors also cited medical evidence that an uncircumcised penis can appear circumcised when erect. The complainant said Ayton was circumcised, which the accused denied.

Prosecutors argued the complainant’s account of abuse in the gym was supported by his friend’s testimony that squat equipment was there, matching the complainant’s claim he was doing squats when assaulted.

Calling the alleged abuse a breach of trust, prosecutors told the jury this was a simple case.

Cashena Thompson and Vashti Bridgewater are prosecuting.