Dance promoter gets 30 years for rape of girl, 14

Esmond Kwesi Slowe

Justice Jo-Ann Barlow yesterday morning sentenced part-time dance promoter Esmond Kwesi Slowe to 30 years behind bars for the rape of a 14-year-old girl.

Referencing evidence presented at his trial and findings of a probation report presented at yesterday’s sentencing hearing, the judge made it clear to Slowe that he could not shift blame for his actions to whatever drunken state he may have been in at the time the offence was committed.

She said that while excessive alcohol consumption “may” have played a role, one has to face whatever consequences flow from deliberately imbibing beyond one’s limits and it was against this background that the judge said a strong message needed to be sent to society. She said that the law does not allow a person to escape liability for their actions by simply blaming it on the ill-effects of alcohol or drunkenness.

“People do stupid things because they are not masters of their own minds,” Justice Barlow said.