JUSTICE Jo-Ann Barlow on Monday sentenced 23-year-old Calvin Ramcharran to 23 years imprisonment for rape and assault causing bodily harm, committed on an adult female at a dance at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara on July 22, 2012.

The sentence was imposed after a 12-member jury deliberated and returned with a guilty verdict on both charges.

The first charge stated that on July 22, 2012, in the county of Demerara, Ramcharran engaged in sexual penetration of an adult female without her consent. The second charge is that, on the same date, he assaulted the young woman causing her actual bodily harm.

After the verdict was read to him, a clearly disappointed Ramcharran said, “I am innocent of this matter, and forgive those of what they don’t know.” He was immediately led out of court to prison, where he will spend the next 23 years.

Ramcharran’s four years for the second charge of assault causing actual bodily harm will be served concurrently.

Prosecutor Diana Kaulesar in association with Tuanna Hardy represented the state, while Sonia Parag was Ramcharran’s defence counsel. Pariag had asked the court to be lenient with her client Ramcharran, whom she said was still very young, but Justice Jo-Ann Barlow pointed out that the jury had found him guilty of both charges, and that the maximum penalty for rape is life imprisonment.

The evidence in the matter shows that the young woman had been violated and assaulted (beaten), Justice Barlow reminded defence counsel. She said that despite Ramcharran’s age, society was hoping that its voice could be heard through the court.

According to the evidence in the case, on the date in question, Ramcharran was at the same dance at which the young woman was present with some friends. She went to urinate and he followed her, asking if she was “doing business”, and she said no. Although he had heard that, he still assaulted the young woman and raped her.

(Michel Outridge)