The unanimous jury verdict that convicted former Dartmouth police officer Shawn Souza on charges of rape and molestation has been set aside by the court, releasing Souza from custody, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III.
“The jury unanimously convicted the defendant, a former police officer, of serious child rape charges,” Quinn said. “The judge’s decision sets aside the jury’s six-hour deliberations and takes away a verdict that was well supported by the evidence.”
Souza was tried by a jury on June 13, 2022 for crimes related to his step-daughter, which occurred when she was between the ages of 6 and 8 from 2011 to 2013, Quinn said at a trial on Oct. 3, 2024…