Lethem man gets 30 years for rape
NICK SKEETE, called ‘Jason Blair’ and ‘Shatta’ being escorted by the police along the corridors of the High Court
NICK SKEETE, called ‘Jason Blair’ and ‘Shatta’ being escorted by the police along the corridors of the High Court

NICK SKEETE, called ‘Jason Blair’ and ‘Shatta’ was sentenced to 30 years in prison for raping a 20-year-old woman back in 2016; however, 3 years, 10 months and four days would be deducted from his sentence for the time spent on remand.

The 31-year-old man, who hails from Lethem, was sentenced on Thursday (July 9) by High Court Judge, Jo-Ann Barlow in the Sexual Offences Court at the Demerara High Court, almost four months after he was found guilty, by a 12-member jury, of raping the young woman.

According to the records of the Court, between July 8 and July 9, 2016, in Lethem, Skeete had sexual intercourse with the woman without her consent. He was, allegedly, a part of a gang of four that committed the act.

Before the heinous crime was committed, the accused had attempted to restrain the victim at a place of entertainment but was unsuccessful. However, later that night, while the victim was awaiting transportation, the accused, along with a number of other persons, forcibly took her to a house.

There, Skeete, while smoking a substance, blew the smoke into face of the 20-year-old victim. Then, he reportedly took her into a room, and raped her. That violation was then compounded when Skeete, according to Court records, called on those who were present to participate in the vicious act against the victim.
After being sexually violated for hours, the victim was reportedly sent to have a bath, and it was while in the bathroom that she heard the accused and others plotting to keep her as a “sex slave.” The victim managed to flee the house during the wee hours of the morning, and was rescued and taken to the police station, and subsequently the hospital, where she was hospitalized.

Before handing down the sentence, Justice Barlow admitted into evidence the Probation Report, the Victim Impact Report and the Prison Report, but ruled that information contained in the Probation and Victim Impact Reports that are irrelevant to the case will be set aside.

PLEA IN MITIGATION
Skeete’s Attorney, Ravindra Mohabir, in his plea in mitigation, asked the Court to be lenient in its sentencing. In doing so, Mohabir, during his virtual appearance, told the Sexual Offences Court that Skeete is a 31-year-old father of two, both of whom are minors. He noted that Skeete had no antecedents or pending matter, and in his childhood years, had been neglected by his father.

“This accused, Mr. Nick Skeete, during his childhood, his father left him, left his mother and went to Canada. During that time, Mr Skeete was left unsupervised during his early childhood when a father figure is absolutely necessary for the nurturing and disciplining of children,” Mohabir told the Court.
Given his age, he said, the convicted rapist still has a life ahead of him, and once reformed, could contribute meaningfully to society. “There is still an opportunity for him to be reformed and reintegrated into society and to provide meaningfully to his family, [and] members of his community,” the Attorney said while asking Justice Barlow for the least possible sentence.

Skeete, for his part, told the Court that he was sorry for what had happened to the victim. “I am very, very sorry,” the 31-year-old man told Justice Barlow even as he maintained his innocence. “I am speaking from my heart, I am totally innocent of this charge,” he added while begging for leniency.
Skeete reminded the Court that he is a father of two children – ages six and eight – who need his support. He noted that his aunt is offering support to his family but his children need him. According to him, he is an industrious individual.

“I don’t hold any malice against anyone for what I am going through. I see it as a systematic something, though it is not going the way I thought it would have gone…But I am totally innocent,” Skeete said as he begged the Court for mercy.

THE SENTENCE
Justice Barlow, in handing down the jail time, said the barbarity of the events that took place leaves the Court in no doubt that the imposition of a Custodial Sentence was necessary and appropriate. It was noted that the maximum term of imprisonment as provided in the Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 8:03 is a term of life imprisonment.
The Judge said the Court considered not only the seriousness of the offence but also the role played by Skeete. “A sentencing court is ultimately guided by the circumstances of the particular case. A sentencing court must be presumed to have its finger on the pulse of society and must lend its voice through its sentence to not only deter other would-be offenders but to also express society’s deep repulsion at certain acts,” the Judge said.

When the facts of the matter were considered, the Court set the starting point for the sentence at 27 years and then added three more years for the aggravating factors. It was made clear, that in arriving at the sentence, the Court considered only the actions of Skeete on the basis that he must be held accountable.

Justice Barlow said the plea in mitigation and Skeete’s plea for mercy were not sufficient to persuade the Court. “Taking all of these circumstances into account, the Court finds that the accused was the first offender and has never been convicted. The Court also found from the material before it that there is nothing currently engaging the attention of the police against Nick Skeete other than this matter. While the Court finds that these are mitigating circumstances, the court was not moved to make any deductions from the sentence for mitigating circumstances because the Court formed the view that the aggravating factors of this case are so grave and weighty that they outweighed any mitigating circumstances,” Justice Barlow explained.

However, the Judge noted that because Skeete was on remand for a period of three years, 10 months and four days as he awaited the completion of his trial, the Court, in accordance with the law, was required to make the full deduction. As such, the time spent on remand was deducted from the 30-year sentence. Further, the Court ordered that Skeete receive counselling while in prison. The judge said if the need arises and the circumstances allow, counselling should also be continued for the victim. The state was represented by Teriq Mohammed, who was also present.

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