The relatives of a 16-year-old East Bank Essequibo teen who was recently raped in her home are fearful that the suspect who was arrested last Friday will walk free after police investigators told them that the man will have to be released from custody.
A distressed relative told Stabroek News that the police visited the family yesterday and said that the suspect said to be in his mid 20s will have to be released even though a medical examination confirmed that the girl was raped.
The relative said that the police offered no explanation as to why the man would be released.
Staboek News was unable to reach senior police officials yesterday for a comment on the case.
Reports are that the suspect turned up at the girl’s home on July 14 asking for her father.
The girl reportedly told the man that both her parents had gone to a West Coast Demerara market to sell and would not be back until the afternoon.
The teen who was home alone according to the information reaching this newspaper closed the front door again and proceeded to the kitchen to continue her chores. Minutes later she was confronted by the suspect who was holding a knife. After raping her, it is alleged that the suspect threatened to kill two of her close family members.
Another sexual assault took place on August 11. Reports are that the man confronted the teen in the back yard and forced her into the house where he again raped her.
Despite the continuous threats from the suspect, the teen confided in a close relative last week which resulted in the suspect being arrested.
Relatives told this newspaper yesterday that the parents of the suspect have approached the teen’s parents with a proposal that the two should get married. When the teen’s parents refused they were offered money to settle the matter.
One relative said that this situation is unfair, particularly since sexual assaults are a frequent occurrence in the community where the teen lives. He called on the police to take the matter seriously and to ensure that the teen and her family get justice.
