Taxi driver Feroz Shakeer is now awaiting sentencing after being found guilty by a jury of raping a 12-year-old girl whom he drove to a remote location; instead of transporting her to her intended destination.
Following hours of deliberations, the 11 members who sat on the panel returned a unanimous verdict, convicting Shakeer of the charge of rape of a child under 16 years; particulars of which stated that on December 3rd, 2015 he sexually penetrated the 12-year-old.
Justice Priya Sewnraine-Beharry who presided over the trial has deferred sentencing to July 15th, pending the presentation of probation and other social impact reports.
The State’s case was that the offender on the day in question was transporting several schoolchildren.
But the court had heard that while he dropped one of the children off at her home, he drove the others to a secluded location where he then raped the complainant.
The accused was represented by defence attorneys George Thomas and Madan Kissoon.
On the prosecution side were state counsel 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.
