Man gets ‘life’ for raping girl
Rapist Mohammed Khan
Rapist Mohammed Khan

JUSTICE Priya Sewnarine Beharry on Thursday sentenced a 50-year-old man to life in prison for raping a 13-year-old girl back in 2014.

Rapist, Mohammed Khan will be eligible for parole after serving thirty five years behind bars. After the sentence was handed down at the Berbice Assizes on Thursday afternoon, Khan told reporters, “A innocent man is being sent to jail. I cannot do what they say I did,” referring to an erectile dysfunction.

State Prosecutor Mr. Mandel Moore had led the evidence, which stated that on September 28, 2014, the victim, then aged 13-years-old, was riding pass the convict’s home when he called out to her asking if she wants a pair of shoes. After she said no, he enquired whether she needed to buy a movie disc which was in his house. As she stood in his doorway, Khan pulled the teen by the hair into the house, where he, after closing the door, took a knife and cut off her clothing, before placing the knife to her neck and engaging in sexual penetration. The sexual violations were committed twice. The victim knew the convict three years prior to the incident as he sold DVD’s in front of his home.

Meanwhile, after the jury returned the unanimous verdict, Khan, standing in the prisoner’s dock, said, “I am completely innocent of the crime. An innocent man is being sent to jail. The incident never happened. I am incapable of raping anyone. I do hope someone will get it right. Due to financial difficulties I could not take a proper lawyer. The police never spoke to the witnesses.”

But, Justice Seenarine Beharry noted that during the trial the defence never put it to the witnesses that the police never spoke to them. She also noted that the prisoner had no previous conviction. Defence Counsel was Arundranauth Gossai.

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