REGISTERED Medical Practitioner Dr. Samantha Kennedy Moore, of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), who examined a 15-year-old girl allegedly raped by a minibus conductor on Friday, 13th November, 2009, testified about finding a laceration on the introit to the girl’s vagina, but could not swear that penetration of the vagina had occurred on the same day of the laceration. Through prosecutors Miss Dianne Kauleser and Miss Retina Singh, the state had led evidence to show that the accused — Leon Doris, called ‘Blackboy’ – had, on that day, raped the 15-year-old girl in a house in Kitty.
The state is further contending that the forceful entry of the penis into the vagina was responsible for the laceration that the doctor had found. But while admitting that a penis could have caused the laceration, Dr Moore pointed out that she could not conclusively say that the penis was the cause, since persons are known to have indulged in sexual practices by using hard objects in their vaginas which could produce the same effect.
And she could not say whether the hymen had been removed that day, or how long before; but what she knew was that there was none.
The doctor, who graduated in 2006, said that since her graduation, she had examined about 4,000 patients, including between 800 and 1,000 gynaecological cases.
Dr Moore also said she was attending court for the first time yesterday.
She said that after attending to the patient, she had written her findings on a certificate and had handed same to the police.
The doctor refreshed her memory from that certificate yesterday when she referred to the laceration on the introit to the vagina.
She also made it quite clear that the absence of the hymen does not mean that there was penetration on the very day the discovery was made.
In answer to cross-examination, the doctor admitted that the absence of the hymen is not indicative of a sexual act, and agreed with defence counsel that a person can lose her hymen by horse riding, or by strenuous exercise.
The prosecution was expected to close its case yesterday afternoon.
The hearing continues today.