Dinesh Seepersaud was yesterday sentenced to life for the rape of a Corentyne woman at knife point during a burglary at her home in 2020. The man was also sentenced to five years for the offence of burglary yesterday.
Last month, Seepersaud, 43, pleaded guilty to both offences at the High Court in Berbice before Justice Sandil Kissoon. He was represented by Attorney at Law, Surihya Sabsook, while the state was represented by Attorney at Law, Muntaz Ali.
The man pleaded guilty to raping the woman and burglary in November, 2020.
In a victim impact statement read to the court by Attorney Ali yesterday, the court heard that the accused raped and robbed the woman between November 20, 2020 and November, 21, 2020.
According to the victim’s statement, after the accused was initially arrested and placed on bail he returned to her residence and threatened to kill her causing her to relocate. “I don’t want to see him back because he hurt me mentally. I am not the same person anymore and I need justice and I want the court to give him a life sentence”, she said.
In sentencing Seepersaud yesterday, Justice Kissoon stated, that “upon his arraignment before this court the accused (related) in writing to the brutal, callous, and horrific factual circumstances of his crimes setting out the specific details of the rape of his victim at knife point in the course of his commission of the burglary of her home on that night.”
According to the judge, the aggravating factors include the gravity of the crime which is of an extremely serious nature, “violent, brutal and horrific.” He said, the victim was made to endure significant physical and psychological trauma, pain and degradation.
Another aggravating factor is the prevalence of the offence of rape in Guyana which continues to be a matter of grave concern. “The duty of a sentencing court confronted with a horrific, grave and prevalent crime holds no uncertainty, the safety, security and wellbeing of society and in particular our most vulnerable the youths and the children in particular, requires a sentencing court in passing sentence in such circumstances” to demonstrate its utter revulsion and non-acceptance of “such conduct, such crime and such criminality by imposing a severe punishment.”
Additionally, Justice Kissoon pointed out that a dangerous weapon – a knife – was used by the accused in the commission of the “heinous and brutal crime of rape” during which he threatened the victim and inflicted injuries to her neck and arm while she was in her home.
He also noted the severe and significant impact the crime had on the victim.
Seepersaud in January, 2020, was sentenced to one year in prison for break and enter and larceny.
Justice Kissoon yesterday pointed out that the accused committed the crime of rape shortly after being released from prison and has no remorse for the offence and his actions.
As such, he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after completing fourteen years in prison for rape and five years in prison for burglary. The sentences are to run concurrently.
It was also ordered that the accused benefit from programmes that are specifically tailored for sexual offenders to aid in his rehabilitation.
