A Berbice farmer who allegedly raped his 13-year-old stepdaughter around 3.45 am on Thursday was arrested the following day and released from custody yesterday without any charges being instituted.
Relatives learnt that the police have sent to file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice. A doctor examined the first-form student and confirmed that she was sexually violated.
Her mother, 32, who vends vegetables in the market twice weekly, had left home at 3.30 am to ply her trade when her reputed husband of seven years carried out the act.
The girl’s 11-year-old brother witnessed the ordeal. He was asleep in the same bed with his sister and woke up after hearing her begging the 39-year-old man, whom they call “daddy”, to stop. When the boy sat up in the bed, the man pulled on his shorts and left the room.
Both children are currently undergoing counselling by officers from the Child Care and Protection Agency. They have since been placed in the care of their biological father.
The mother told this newspaper that she never had any problems with the man and was shocked that he would carry out such a dreadful act on her daughter.
She felt that had her son reacted, both of her children could have ended up dead. She ordered the man to leave her house, but she is fearful for her life.
