Thirty-six-year-old former mason Adjuke Josiah was yesterday morning sentenced to 18 years behind bars for the rape of a 15-year-old girl back in 2018.
At a pre-sentencing hearing last week, the court heard from the victim impact statement presented on behalf of the now 18-year-old young woman, who related the pain and shame with which she has been left.
Following the conclusion of a trial in April, a 12-member jury unanimously convicted Josiah of sexually penetrating the teen on August 18th, 2018.
The impact statement of the victim related the resentment she has for her mother whom she said disbelieved that she had been assaulted and so did nothing.
“It was very abusive as a mother to a daughter. I expected better. More love, comfort, care and protection; but instead it was verbally, physically and emotional abuse I faced,” the court had heard from the statement.
“He took something from me that was not for him,” the young woman’s statement said, while noting that apart from her ongoing emotional, physical and mental trauma; she is also still plagued by flashbacks “over and over in my head that I will never forget.”
Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. Meenawattie Rajkumar in her report had told the court that the victim’s psychological trauma has not been fully cured and she still suffers flashbacks and depression associated with the emotional, mental and physical trauma of the assault.
In his address to the court, the father of one had begged for mercy, even as he continued to profess his innocence; which Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry said was indicative of his lack of remorse, given the finding of the jury.
His attorney Clyde Forde at the sentencing hearing had described the assault meted out to the teen as an ‘unfortunate incident,’ while asking the Judge to consider what he said is his client’s potential for rehabilitation, while citing his previous unblemished record.
Prosecutor Caressa Henry in rebuttal, however, was swift in pointing out that though the offender begged for mercy, he had failed to accept responsibility for his actions even in the face of the jury’s verdict.
Highlighting the gravity of the offence and the challenges from which the complainant still suffers, Henry had asked the Judge to impose a sentence that would send a strong message of deterrence to potential offenders.
Referencing a number of case law authorities, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry said that after considering all the circumstances of the case and the aggravating and mitigating factors, a sentence of 18 years was appropriate.
She has ordered that the prison authority deduct the three months that Josiah had spent on remand.
The trial proceedings were conducted in-camera at the Sexual Offences Court of the High Court in Demerara.
