Jury fails to decide whether soldier raped woman
Connor Bennett/BBCA man accused of raping a woman in Norwich city centre remains in custody after a jury failed to reach a verdict.
The alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she was attacked at about 23:30 BST on 17 September.
Bali Hoxha, 29, a Kosovan soldier, told his trial he would "never do that".
Jurors at Norwich Crown Court found him not guilty of two counts of sexual assault, but after more than seven hours of deliberation, they were discharged when they failed to reach a verdict on the rape charge.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has seven days to decide whether it wants to pursue a retrial on the rape charge.
The alleged incident took place on a footpath between Prince of Wales Road and the Riverside Retail Park.
Hoxha, who had been in Norfolk training personnel from the Ukrainian army, was arrested at the military training facility at West Tofts Camp in Thetford.
He denied assaulting the woman in his initial police interview and throughout the trial.
The sex was consensual, Hoxha said.
Judge Nicholas Ainley said Hoxha would remain in custody while the CPS considered its next steps.
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