Man gets 7 years for rubbing 9-yr-old’s vagina
A 55-year old man was yesterday sentenced to a term of seven years imprisonment after he was convicted by a jury for engaging in sexual activity with a nine-year-old girl.
JAILED: Maurice Fernandes
Two weeks ago, Maurice Fernandes was convicted by a jury with a majority verdict of 10 guilty to two not guilty. Between October 1 and 31, 2016, he engaged in sexual activity with the minor, whose genitals he rubbed.
In arriving at a sentence for Fernandes, Justice Jo Ann Barlow started at a base of eight years. The judge deducted a year for mitigating factors in favour of Fernandes.
In a victim impact statement, the young girl expressed that at first she was afraid to report the abuse to her mother because she did not want Fernandes to “get in trouble” or be sent to prison. The victim revealed that she is now happy that the matter has been resolved.
Abigail Gibbs led the case for the State, in association with Narissa Leander.
The trial was heard in-camera in the Sexual Offences Courtroom at the High Court in Georgetown.
Kaieteurnews.