THIRTY-SIX-year-old Marino Corbis, who was charged for raping an elderly woman back in 2016, was given a life sentence by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Berbice Assizes on Friday.

The case, which was rolled over from the October criminal sessions, lasted 16 days during which State Prosecutrix Tuanna Hardy presented four witnesses, including the 67-year-old victim, who was cross- examined extensively by Defence Attorney Mursuline Bacchus.

The indictment stated that the act was committed on November 16, 2016, in the County of Berbice. Following the unanimous verdict of guilty by the 12-member jury, Corbis, when questioned by the Court, responded, “I have nothing to say.”

Ms Hardy reminded the Court to protect the vulnerable in society, as the convict had broken and entered the home of the woman who had cared for him as her son. It was just after midnight when he sexually violated the woman.

Meanwhile, two days before his sentence, while being escorted to the court room Corbis on seeing the pensioner sitting on one of the available seats along the court’s hallway, laughed and mocked her.

After the sentence was handed down he was overheard whispering under his breath a series of expletives, before he was ushered by prison officials to the New Amsterdam Prison. Corbis once lived in Antigua and Curacao, but returned to Guyana two years ago. Shortly afterwards he committed the offence.