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Jul 21, 2016 News
A Berbice River man who was on trial in the Berbice High Court on a charge of rape committed on a girl back in 2013, has been found guilty of the crime and sentenced to 17 years in jail.
The man, Troy Anderson, 37 of Kwakwani Park, Berbice River was on trial before Justice Jo Ann Barlow and a mixed jury. He was found guilty of engaging in sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16 years. He committed the act on March 27, 2013.
When the matter continued on Monday, Justice Barlow summed up the evidence and directed the Jury who returned within 25 minutes with the unanimous verdict of guilty of engaging in sexual penetration of a child.
The state’s case as presented by Attorney at Law Stacy Goodings was that the accused and the virtual complainant were known to each other for a few years. The virtual complainant was friends with the sisters of the accused.
On the day in question the victim went to the accused’s home to visit his sister who is a seamstress in order for her to alter a pair of pants.
Upon reaching the house, the victim peeped through the back door and saw the man sitting in the house. She enquired if his sister was at home and he answered in the affirmative. He told her she was in the middle room. The VC entered the house and upon entering the room realized that no one was there. As she tried to leave the accused entered the room behind her and bolted the door. He then pushed her down on the bed and despite her efforts to escape she was unsuccessful. The accused undressed and also undressed her.
She was offered a $1000 after the act but did not accept it. She went home but did not tell anyone what had happened. The next day she felt pain, a burning sensation and fever. She was taken to the Kwakwani Hospital where she was admitted. She was subsequently taken to the Linden Hospital where it was diagnosed that she had contracted an infection.
The matter was reported and the accused was arrested and charged.
Anderson had given an unsworn statement from the dock in which he had denied having sex with the girl. He said that on the day in question he was at home, when the girl called for his sister and enquired if she was at home and he told her no. She then left.
His Attorney, Lawrence Harris pleaded for leniency for his client. He alluded to the fact that the accused is a regular churchgoer.
Justice Barlow, before passing sentence told the accused that the Jury had found him guilty. What he did was not nice. He had destroyed a relationship between two families. She told him that he took advantage of a minor and forced himself on her.
“You did not even try to seek her consent although she was underage. What you did forced her to be hospitalised for many days.”
The Judge told him that she had 18 years in mind. But will subtract one year because he is a first offender. She also took into consideration the plea by his lawyer and the fact that he has now turned to God and is a regular in church.
She told him that she hopes he finds God while in prison and ask for forgiveness.
She then sentenced him to 17 years in jail.
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