Man gets 20 years for rape

Dec 17, 2017 News

A man who had a criminal past and was reportedly on a list of names recommended to and pardoned by the President back in 2015 has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for the rape he committed not long after he was released from jail.
Raymond Gouveia, 22, called “Ryan” of Kingeley Village, West Coast Berbice, was on trial before Justice Jo Ann Barlow and a mixed Jury in the Berbice High Court.
He was found guilty and handed the sentence for the crime he committed on the 48 year old woman on September 14, 2015. This was not long after he was released from jail.
The matter which was held in camera saw the state calling seven witnesses, including the virtual complainant. Three policemen and a doctor were also called. Justice Barlow had told the convict that the maximum sentence was life imprisonment. She had told him that the initial sentence was 24 years. She however discounted four years for the mitigation plea, his age and the one year 11 months that he was in custody. When the incident occurred, the victim had expressed fear for her life after more than two months had elapsed before the accused was arrested.
The woman had complained to the media that she was raped whilst in the backdam at Kingeley Village picking up coconuts which she sells to make a living.
She was on her way out and he was heading into the backdam. She kept her eyes on him all the while. However, he just ran from behind and grabbed her and threw her to the ground. Despite her resistance, he raped her.
The woman had stated that it was not the first time that the man tried to rape her. The woman had told the media that after the first attempt she had stopped going to the backdam, but after not seeing Gouveia in the village for some time, she had recommenced her activity.
Gouveia had denied commit the act. “No, I never do it,” he had said.
Reports were that the man had raped two girls and was sent to the New Opportunity Corps (NOC). While there, he had also reportedly raped a boy. He had admitted to the media of serving time in jail for a story with a girl, but did not go into details.
Residents had said that he was out of jail because he was among those pardoned by the President. State appointed attorney, Sasha Roberts’s stood in for the accused. The man had told the media that he would normally go into the backdam to cut branches to make brooms which he sells.

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