Following the presentation of probation and other social impact reports, construction worker Clincy David, 45, was last Friday sentenced to 17 years behind bars for raping a 13-year-old girl two years ago.
Back in April, a 12-member panel unanimously convicted David on the first count of attempting to rape the teen on April 8th, 2020 and on the second count of sexually penetrating her on July 13th, 2020.
At a pre-sentencing hearing two weeks ago, the courtroom of Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry heard from a victim impact statement of the young lady who related her relief that David had been found guilty, but lamented that what he has done to her continues to have distressing effects.
According to the statement read by the young girl’s therapist, she has had to battle loss of interest in her academics on the one hand; while still plagued by constant flashbacks and disturbing dreams on the other.
“I never use to want to go to school when this happened. I just wanted to stay home and lock up in the house all the time. I was scared because I think he would do something to me like that again. I feel bad,” the counsellor read from the statement.
And while the court heard of how cheerful the victim would feel whenever her mother and one of her school friends enquired how she was feeling, it hasn’t always been an easy task “to talk about my story and what happened to me.”
The young lady detailed being overcome by emotions, anger and a desire to “lash out,” especially when she had to testify at the trial.
She related that the initial relief would last for only a couple of days as she unburdened her mind, while lamenting the instrumental role counselling has played in helping her to face her fears and express her feelings.
“I wished that this would have never happened to me…I wished he would have confessed about what he did to me. When people asked me about it, it made me feel bad; I don’t want to tell them about it. It would bring back bad memories when they asked,” the court heard the young girl relating from the statement.
“I never thought it could happen to me; he just took most of my happiness from me. Most days I try to find back that happiness.”
She then goes on to detail her lack of feelings for anyone since the assault, except her mother and little sister, “but I don’t have feelings for nobody else…I feel good that he get guilty. Let him stay in the cell for years.”David has maintained his innocence.
At the hearing last Friday, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry informed the convict that he would be sentenced to 15 years behind bars for his initial attempt at raping the teen, and 17 years for eventually carrying out the act.
The Judge ordered that the sentences are to be served concurrently.
The State’s case had been that David raped the young girl on her thirteenth birthday—mere months after first attempting the act on her.
He was represented by defence attorney Teriq Mohammed, while the State was represented by prosecutors Cicelia Corbin, Caressa Henry and Paneeta Persaud.
The trial proceedings were held in-camera at the Sexual Offences Court of the High Court in Demerara.
