‘Devastated’ radio host speaks out on verdict
Radio personality Jay-Jay Feeney is “dumbfounded and devastated” after the taxi driver accused of indecently assaulting her was found not guilty.
Baljeet Singh, 29, was acquitted by a jury yesterday after a week-long trial in the Auckland District Court, where he faced one charge of indecent assault.
Singh was charged after Feeney accused him of attacking her when she was a passenger in his taxi in the early hours of October 1, 2017. He denied the charge — maintaining he never touched her inappropriately.
It is the second time Singh has been on trial. The jury in the first trial were unable to reach a verdict. The Crown decided to retry the case.
Yesterday, as the jury delivered its verdict to Judge Claire Ryan, Singh smiled. He then hugged his family and lawyer Marie Dyhrberg, QC.
Feeney was not in court for the verdict. She spoke to the Herald after hearing news of the jury’s decision.
“I am absolutely dumbfounded and devastated,” she said. “I stand with all victims of sexual assault who have never been believed.”
Feeney said she felt “numb” after being told of the verdict.
Last week the court heard that on September 30, 2017, Feeney was out with friends for dinner and drinks.
About 1am she got into Singh’s taxi on Ponsonby Rd and asked him to take her to her Grey Lynn apartment.
She sat in the front and said the pair started talking. She said she was “intoxicated” but not “really drunk”.
She said Singh asked if she was single and offered to be her boyfriend. He stroked her hand and, despite her protest, persisted with his advances.
She said he called her “beautiful” and said she had “really nice breasts”.
When Singh pulled up at her home, Feeney alleged he “leaned down and put his hand down into my bra”.
The taxi driver vehemently rejected any wrongdoing.
Dyhrberg told the jury last week that Feeney was lying.
“Can you trust what she says? The defence says absolutely not.”