A Queens gardener walked out of court yesterday a free man after a jury acquitted him of charges he raped a 15-year-old girl who has Down syndrome.
Prosecutors said Samuel Needham, 52, had sex with the teen, who has the mental abilities of a 5-year-old, on her grandparents’ couch Feb. 22, 2003.
Jurors appeared moved by the young victim’s testimony on Tuesday, but thought twice after hearing that an exam performed three days after the alleged attack showed no evidence of a rape.
“I asked them to put aside their obvious sympathy and weigh the evidence,” said defense attorney Joseph LoPiccolo.