Convicted sex offender Esan Germain who is currently serving a 65-year sentence for sexually abusing a 4-year-old on three occasions—with the final assault at age seven—has again been convicted—this time for raping a 15-year-old girl three times.
Following his first trial back in 2017, a jury had unanimously found Germain guilty of sexually abusing the toddler.
Following hours of deliberations yesterday afternoon, a 12-member jury in a majority verdict of 11 to 1, found him guilty as charged of sexually penetrating the teen between January 1st and July 24th of 2014.
The now 50-year-old former researcher, will be sentenced on February 28th.
Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry who presided over the trial, has deferred sentencing for a probation report.
As he had done with the 4-year-old, Germain not only sexually penetrated the teen, but also caused her to perform oral sex on him, and among other sexual acts, fondled her in the process.
Germain who attended his trial virtually from the Mazaruni Prison where he is serving his first sentence, appeared visibly distressed after learning his fate. His story has been that he did not commit the acts.
The State’s case was led by Prosecutor Nafeeza Baig, in association with Latifah Elliot and Muntaz Ali.
Germain was represented by defence attorney Clyde Forde.
The trial proceedings were held in-camera at the Sexual Offences Court of the High Court in Demerara.
Back in December of 2017 Germain was sentenced to a total of 65 years in jail after being convicted on all three counts of engaging in sexual activity with the child—when she was ages four, six and seven.
At the time, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall sentenced Germain to 15 and 20 years imprisonment, on the first and second counts respectively.
He was ordered to serve 15 of those 20 years, before becoming eligible for parole. Meanwhile, on the third count, the convict was given a 30-year sentence, 20 of which the judge said must be served before it becomes possible for him to be paroled.
All the sentences are running concurrently. As a result, Germain will have to serve a minimum of 20 years before being eligible for parole.
The state’s case had been that sometime during 2010, 2012 and 2013, Germain performed oral sex on the child, and in turn caused her to do same to him. Addition-ally, it said he rubbed his penis against the girl’s genitals.
In handing down the sentence, Justice Morris-Ramlall had noted then that not only was the child repeatedly violated, but that the assaults began at the tender age of four.
Among other things, the judge had told Germain that his conduct did not entitle him to mercy, while noting that he needed to be sentenced to a term appropriate for sending a clear message to potential offenders; while at the same time providing him an opportunity to reflect on what he had done and the consequences of his actions, with the hope that he could be rehabilitated in the process.
Noting that the child had been scarred for life, the prosecution had requested life imprisonment.
