Forty-three-year-old Mario Heywood has been sentenced to serve 17 years behind bars for raping a nine-year-old girl on three separate occasions in 2018.
At his sentencing hearing yesterday afternoon, Justice Sandil Kissoon told an expressionless Heywood who maintained his innocence, that his vile abuse of the child in the worst way possible had destroyed her innocence.
Underscoring the gravity of the acts committed against the child, Justice Kissoon said that sexual offences against children in particular, had reached “crisis” levels in Guyana; noting that Heywood’s, was one in a litany of such cases confronting the courts at alarming frequency.
The Judge said while he noted defence attorney Damien Da Silva’s pleas for clemency on behalf of his client as well as his potential for rehabilitation and previous good character, regard had to also be given to the gravity of the offences committed against the child.
Probation and Social Services Officer Lavern Gentle told the Court that the now-teenager related feeling pain and hurt and was fearful to disclose to her mother what the accused had done to her, since he had threatened to kill her mother if she said anything about the assaults.
Gentle said the child also disclosed that her traumatic experience has caused her to become withdrawn, anti-social and has left her with a fear of trusting people.
In all of the circumstances of the case, Justice Kissoon sentenced the father of one to 15 years on the first count and 17 years each on the two other counts.
He, however, ordered that they be served concurrently, with the further directive that the offender be provided counselling, tailored for sex offenders.
Just under a month ago, a jury found Heywood guilty as charged of raping the child on three separate occasions during the months of October and November 2018.
He had been charged with the offence of rape of a child under 16 years; particulars of which stated that he sexually penetrated the young girl between October 1st and November 20th of 2018.
The prosecution had said that after raping the child, Heywood then threatened to kill her mother if she ever told anyone what he had done to her.
The trial proceedings were held in-camera at the Sexual Offences Court of the High Court in Demerara.
The State was represented by prosecutors Cicelia Corbin, Caressa Henry and Marisa Edwards.
