Breaking Down Sexual Offences
This week’s article will be relatively short as we look at conduct which everyone probably knows to be a crime: intercourse with an animal. This offence, created under section 31 of the Sexual Offences Act, Cap 8:03, Laws of Guyana (the SOA), is perhaps better known as bestiality.
Importantly, section 31 is gender-neutral, contemplating acts by both men and women.
Penetration or being penetrated
Section 31 (1) of the SOA states that the offence of “intercourse with an animal” is committed where ‘he penetrates the vagina or anus of a living animal with his penis, knowing, or being reckless regarding the fact that he is penetrating the anus or vagina of an animal.’