Latest update February 10th, 2025 5:23 AM
Two geriatrics in court for sexually molesting 14-yr-old girl
Walter Raleigh Tappin, aka Alton, 88, and his counterpart, retired police officer Cedric Cooke, 70, of Maria’s Johanna Wakenaam, Essequibo Island, were each placed on $150,000 bail when they appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court, yesterday.
Tappin was charged indictably for carnal knowledge, while Cooke was accused of indecently assaulting the same girl who is under fifteen years old. Both accused pleaded not guilty.
According to a police report, 88-year-old Tappin on January 1, 2007 and again last December, at Maria’s Johanna had a visit from the victim. Tappin lives alone. The police stated that the victim was a frequent visitor to the accused who lives on the lower flat of the same house that the victim occupies with her mother and step father.
On the days in question, while the girl was visiting the suspect in his room, he held on to her hand then proceeded to have sex with her, without her consent. Concerned citizens of Wakenaam upon learning of the allegation reported the matter to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.
Mr. Tappin was later arrested and charged.
Prosecutor Oswald Pitt objected to bail. However, Magistrate Mc Gusty was more concerned about Mr. Tappin’s age and his feebleness.
Counsel Alfred Bacchus who is familiar with Mr. Tappin also pleaded for leniency for the elderly man.
And in the case of Cooke, according to a police report, on April 23, last at Maria’s Johanna, the young girl went to Mr. Cooke’s apartment to sleep because her mother was not a home at the time.
Cooke allegedly went to her bedroom, took off her underwear and inserted his finger into her vagina.
Mr. Cooke was represented by Mr. Haimraj Rajkumar.
Both Cooke and Tappin will return to court at Wakenaam on July 23, next.
And a 14-year-old student of the Aurora Secondary School was remanded to prison today for having sex with a girl between fifteen and sixteen years old.
The accused was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he too appeared before Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.
The accused will return to court on August 11.
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