Gavin Nero, who was sentenced to 30 years in jail after he admitted to the rape of a six-year-old girl, has been granted a reduction by the Court of Appeal.
By an order dated 16th December, 2019, the CoA ordered that “the sentence of 30 years imprisonment is now reduced to 18 years imprisonment and is to take effect from the date of sentence in the High Court.”
On July 25th, 2014, Stabroek News reported that Justice Rishi Persaud had sentenced Nero to 30 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to the rape of a six-year old girl in 2012.
Then State Attorney Mercedes Thompson had told the court that Nero frequently visited the six-year-old girl’s home, where he would rape her. She had said that Nero was apprehended in March of 2012 by a police officer, but that he had initially denied that he committed the offence.
He was committed to stand trial in July of 2013.
While pleading guilty, Nero asked the court for leniency, declaring that he was sorry for his actions.
However, Justice Persaud said that the victim will suffer for a lifetime due to the act committed on her. He also said Nero has serious psychological problems, while noting that his crime was not a one-off incident. “It is a little unfortunate that there is no (effective) programme for such people,” he said.