Latest update January 23rd, 2025 6:37 AM
Guilty of Rape not guilty of Robbery
– Probation report ordered
The accused in the Number 73 Village, Corentyne rape/robbery trial was on Tuesday found guilty on the count of rape and not guilty on the count of robbery in the Berbice High Court.
Beesham Gopaul
The man, Beesham Gopaul, called “Thackoor”, 27, of Number 74 Village, Corentyne, was on trial before Justice Brassington Reynolds and a mixed jury for the offences which were committed on June 24, 2008 at Number 73 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. The victim was a married mother of two.
Justice Reynolds took all morning to sum up the evidence to the jury. The jury deliberated for over two hours before returning to the court with the verdicts in the two matters. On the count of rape the verdict was a 10-1 guilty verdict. On the count of robbery, the jury also delivered a 10-1 not guilty verdict.
When asked if he had anything to day the Gopaul answered in the negative. Justice Reynolds with the concurrence of Defence Attorney Charlyn Artiga then ordered a Probation Report which is to be presented on Tuesday May 27.
Justice Reynolds then ordered that Gopaul who was on bail be remanded to jail pending the presentation of the Probation Report.
The prosecution and defence had earlier made their respective submissions to the jury.
Defence Attorney Charlyn Artiga had maintained that there was insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution to prove the two offences of Robbery and Rape.
She tried to dissect the evidence of the virtual complainant which was the only consistent evidence presented. She also cited the discrepancies in the evidence given by the virtual complainant and Police Detective Corporal Winston Singh.
Prosecutor Attorney at Law Renita Singh in her submissions concentrated on the evidence of the virtual complainant in which she said was clear. She said that it was the victim who saw the accused. He was in front of her face for about 10 minutes. She also knew the accused for more than 10 years. She also zeroed in on the inconsistency in the story of the accused and his witness in relation to the time he arrived home and when he departed.
The virtual complainant had detailed the sequence of events on the day in question.
Her mother testified to not being at home, but was later informed of the incident. Corporal Singh in his testimony related to the court the part he played during the investigation.
The woman’s mother, Police Detective Corporal Winston Singh and Rural Constable Rowena Craig also testified in the matter.
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