Latest update April 5th, 2025 12:59 AM
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Man pleads guilty then changes plea in high court
A man who had sex with a girl under the age of 15 years of age, back in 2009 and had pleaded guilty on Monday to two counts of carnal knowledge in the Berbice High Court before Justice Dawn Gregory, has now changed his plea to not guilty.
Marvin Bassoo, 26, of Bush Lot, Corentyne, Berbice, who is charged with having carnal knowledge of the girl reappeared in court on Wednesday when he was expected to be sentenced.
Marvin Bassoo
He was unrepresented when he first appeared on Monday. On Wednesday he was represented by Attorney at law Ryan Crawford and he changed his plea to not guilty. Bassoo who was out on $150,000 bail then had his bail increased to $200,000.
Attorney at law Crawford in his address to the court, made an oral application for the withdrawal of his client’s guilty plea. Citing a number of authorities to back his submission when such an application was done before, he told the court that his client did not fully understand the seriousness of his plea and what a conviction would mean.
State prosecutor Diana Kowlesar, in her response stated that the accused had pleaded guilty and it was time for sentencing, however a withdrawal at this time is for the court to decide. She also submitted that the accused had full knowledge of what took place on Monday when he pleaded guilty. He did indicate to the court that he fully understood what his guilty plea meant.
Justice Dawn Gregory in her address to the court stated that after the accused entered his guilty plea he did indicate that he understood what the implications were.
Attorney Crawford in response stated, that it was only after the accused had pleaded guilty that he sought legal counsel. It was then that the implication of his guilty plea was explained to him and his family.
After some deliberation the lawyer stated that his client would like to have a full trial. Justice Gregory then ruled that in interest of justice it will be advisable that he be tried before another panel.
It is understood that the man who was 22 at the time of the offence and the girl who was 14 at the time lived next to each other. They were involved in a relationship between the dates mentioned.
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