Taxi driver is now convicted child rapist

Jul 03, 2019 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

– To be sentenced August 26

Morris Johnson (centre) is escorted from the courtroom after being found guilty of rape.

Forty one-year-old taxi driver Morris Johnson was yesterday found guilty of raping a girl who was just 12 years old at the time of the act. Having been charged with rape of a child under 16, Johnson had pleaded not guilty when the indictment was presented by State Prosecutors Seeta Bishundial and Abigail Gibbs at the Sexual Offences Court in Demerara.
After deliberations, the 12-person jury returned with a unanimous verdict.
Trial Judge Brassington Reynolds adjourned sentencing for Johnson until August 26, following the presentation of a probation report and victim impact statement. His lawyers were Ronald Burch-Smith in association with Keoma Griffith.
Johnson committed the act between August 12 and 13, 2017, in the county of Demerara. According to information, the young girl and some of her friends went to an event on the night of August 12, 2017, and were waiting on transportation to get home. During that time they boarded a ‘short drop’ taxi that was operated by Johnson.
It was reported that Johnson drove past the location his passengers were expected to get off. While the 12-year-old’s friends forced their way out of the car, she was not so fortunate. She was taken to an isolated area where she was raped, and then left on a bridge. She had to find her way home. The minor’s parents were informed by her friends about what had transpired; she was taken to the police.
Thereafter, she was taken to the hospital where a medical examination confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted. Johnson was arrested and charged.

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