(ASHLEY LEGASSIC / iNFOnews.ca)

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KAMLOOPS - A jury has found a former Kamloops man guilty of sexual assault but not sexual assault with a weapon.

Taylor Matchett, 28, was accused of raping a woman at gunpoint but it's unclear what message the jury sent with the verdict in Kamloops Supreme Court this evening, July 15.

Matchett hung his head while he sat in the prisoner's dock, as the jury delivered its verdict.

The jury was sequestered just before 11 a.m. and returned at roughly 8:30 p.m. They were stalled briefly when one juror was excused for being "too loud."

Several witnesses took the stand in the week-long trial, including the defendant and complainant.

A woman, who cannot be named due to a court-ordered publication ban, accused Matchett of holding a gun to her head and raping her nearly seven years ago.

The woman was a prostitute working on Tranquille Road at the time. She says she approached Matchett's car on Nov. 11, 2009 and asked him if he wanted some company.

He said yes, and the woman testified that she instructed him to drive to her home.

Matchett instead drove to McArthur Island Park. The woman alleges that's where the accused pulled a gun out and demanded oral sex.

After about 10 minutes, the woman says he flipped her over, pulled down her pants and raped her.

But Matchett disputed that. When he took the stand earlier this week he told the court the sex was consensual and he paid the woman upfront for anal sex.

Matchett says she got into his car and he drove to McArthur Island Park. They parked in a well-lit parking lot and proceeded to have sex on the hood of Matchett's girlfriend's car.

He says the condom broke, and when he told the woman about it she told him to pay her $500 or she would go to the police and tell them he raped her.

Matchett said he got in the car and drove away, tossing her belongings out of the window. 

Lawyers are expected to fix a date for sentencing next week.

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