Schoolgirl’s rapist gets nearly ten years

A St Michael man who raped a 12-year-old schoolgirl on the compound of a secondary school in 2023 will spend almost a decade in prison after being sentenced in the High Court.

Jamel Lorenzo Hunte was given a 13-year starting sentence in the No. 3A Supreme Court. After deductions were made, inclusive of his time spent on remand, Hunte will serve 3 599 days behind bars at Dodds Prison.

Earlier this year, a jury found Hunte, of Waterman Road, Green Hill, St Michael, unanimously guilty of having sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 14 who was not his spouse on June 15, 2023.

Reaching the starting point, Justice Anthony Blackman determined that the matter was “so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified”, highlighting that the offence’s aggravating factors included the complainant having been restrained, her exposure to psychological harm and the possibility of sexually transmitted infections or an unwanted pregnancy, the level of planning involved, and the commission of the offence at a school, which is considered a safe zone.

A two-year discount was granted for Hunte’s favourable pre-sentence report, his being deemed at low risk of reoffending, his large support group, and sustained employment prior to the offence. He spent 416 days on remand.
“The sentence imposed must reflect the concerns of the courts to protect vulnerable members of society and enforce a special protective layer in relation to women and girls,” Justice Blackman said.

He further ordered that Hunte immediately undergo psychological evaluation and an intensive counselling programme specifically designed for him by the relevant authorities at the penal institution, and enrol in programmes to enable him to make a positive contribution to society upon release.

Principal State Counsel Rudolph Burnett, State Counsel Anastacia McMeo-Boyce, and State Counsel Treann Knight prosecuted the case, while Hunte was represented by defence attorney Ricardo Harrison.

During the trial, the complainant gave evidence that she was at school, on one of the upper levels with other students, when a man who identified himself as a former student approached them.

She testified that after she walked away alone and rounded a corner, she was grabbed and lost consciousness. The student stated that she awoke in a classroom, lying on a table, and the same man she had seen earlier was having sexual intercourse with her.

A forensic examination revealed the presence of Hunte’s DNA on a piece of paper retrieved from a dustbin in the classroom, which investigators said he used after the rape.

Hunte, in his unsworn statement, claimed he went to the school to see the principal. Upon learning the principal was in a meeting, he walked around the premises and spoke to a few students before departing.
He insisted that he did not rape anyone and was only guilty of trespassing, as he had not asked for permission to walk around the school.