Judge jails stepfather for raping girl, 11

Heavily chastising a man who was convicted by a jury of raping his 11-year-old stepdaughter on two occasions, Justice Donna Babb-Agard sentenced him to 15 years and 17 years, respectively, for each count.

As the convicted rapist stood in the dock of the No. 4A Supreme Court on Friday, the judge said: “Rape is one of the most serious offences which can be committed against a man or a woman. It is an offence where the complainant is subdued and is subjected to the sexual whims and fancies of his or her attacker without their consent…The complainant suffered between the full year of 2016 and 2017 while he sexually abused her, as highlighted in the evidence that she gave in this case. You exploited an 11-year-old child in whose home you came to live. You sexually abused her in the absence of her mother, who was considered to be your common-law wife.

“The complainant, at 11 years old, was expected to be safe in her home with the man with whom her mother was involved and in the home she shared with her mother and siblings. You betrayed her parental trust. The complainant may take some years to get over what you have done to her, and she was entitled to depend on you as her stepfather for her safety, for her protection and her guidance because you knew her from the time she was a baby. This court intends to give you ample time in a confined and controlled environment to reflect on the unimaginable destruction and trauma that you have caused to this family unit.”

The man, who was aged 41 at the time of the offences, was found guilty of having sexual intercourse with the minor without her consent between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016 and between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017.

The judge highlighted the repeated abuse of the complainant over a prolonged period, his deliberate exploitation of the girl during the periods when the girl’s mother was absent and the fact that the offences were committed in the sanctity of the family home, and gave a starting sentence of 15 years and 17 years for each count respectively, explaining the increase in the starting point was due to the man’s repeated offending.

After two years were deducted for mitigating factors and also for the delay in the matter and his 352 days on remand, she informed him that he was left to serve 3 663 days on the first count and 4 393 days on the second, both to run concurrently.

While the complainant was not present in the court for the sentence, the judge said: “I wish to say you have shown great courage and strength in coming forward and speaking about what happened to you especially given the nature of the offences. It is this court’s sincere hope that the disposal of this matter will allow you to move forward and heal and this court wishes you the very best.”

Principal State Counsel Olivia Davis and State Counsel Tito Holder prosecuted the case, while attorney Rasheed Belgrave represented the now convicted man.