Four years after they conspired to rape a woman at a Kuru Kururu resort, Justice Jainarayan Singh Jr, who called their actions “sick”, jailed two men for a total of 35 years.
Shawn McIntyre, 26, and Troy Charles, 21, were jailed on Friday last for 15 and 20 years respectively for raping a woman back in January 2004 at a Kuru Kururu resort. Charles had committed the act while McIntyre held the woman down and in the eyes of the law he is equally responsible.
Justice Singh, handing down judgment, reprimanded the two accused stating that women should be free to move around in Guyana without being molested by men with criminal intentions.
He said “there is no reason why two young men like you should commit such a crime”.
The High Court trial commenced on September 16 with the prosecution leading evidence to show that the men had overpowered the victim and raped her on the day in question, but the defence led by attorney-at-law Compton Richardson called it a case of mistaken identity arguing that the victim had the men mixed up.
However, the woman testified before the jury pointing out both men as her attackers, and she detailed a story of fright and pain.
The woman recalled that she was at the resort with friends having a good time when she got caught up watching television. She had no idea when her friends left, but waited at the resort for her brother to pick her up.
After some time elapsed and her brother failed to show up, she went in search of him. She searched all six benabs at the resort and came up empty; in the sixth benab, she encountered the duo.
According to her, the men immediately acted strangely when they saw her and McIntyre told Charles to have sex with her. The woman recounted that she started crying but they threw her to the ground and McIntyre restrained her while Charles raped her. Medical evidence tendered in court by Prosecutor Kara Duff-Yehudah supported the woman’s story.
At the sentencing, it was discovered that Charles is currently serving a sentence for the rape of a mentally challenged girl while McIntyre had no previous record.
Justice Singh called Charles, “mentally sick” and told McIntyre that his actions — standing up and watching his friend rape the woman — were also the product of a sick mind.
