A FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD lad was remanded into police custody yesterday when he appeared in Court, charged with having carnal knowledge of a girl, seven. The indictable charge, which the teen faced before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton, said, on February 2, at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, he sexually penetrated the girl under the age of 16 years.
As the particulars of the offence were being read to the accused, the virtual complainant was lifted into the courtroom by her uncle.
The magistrate enquired how old the teenager is and both he and his mother claimed he was 17. However, when his birth certificate was produced, it proved he is 15.
Police Sergeant Lionel Harvey, prosecuting, objected to bail, stating that the mother has no control over the accused and he would wander around.
The prosecutor, whose objection was upheld, also informed that the accused has a similar case pending, in which he is presently enjoying pre-trial liberty.
Consequently, the accused will remain in police detention until  tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the girl’s grandmother, who was outside the courtroom, expressed great dismay at the incident, saying the child is afraid to be alone since the incident and would only stay with her for comfort.
The woman emphasised that she will go all out to get justice for her grandchild, noting that the dreadful occurrence has affected everyone in the family, including the girl’s other siblings.
The grandmother said her grandchild was picked up from school by the accused, who lied to her by telling her that her mother sent him to get her.
After he committed the act, he then left the girl to walk home and, when she arrived there, she collapsed and her mother began to scream, realising that something was wrong.
On investigation, it was revealed that the child identified the bicycle on which she was conveyed from school.
“She is a very smart child,” the grandmother pointed out.
Stating that the accused borrowed the bicycle from his friend for the purpose, the woman declared that the police should have held the friend for questioning, too.
The grandmother told reporters she will pray to make sure justice is served and for her granddaughter to be healed of the trauma she faced at such an early age.