CALVIN Ramcharran, who was sentenced, in 2015, to 23 years in prison for rape and assault causing bodily harm, is now challenging his conviction and sentence.

Ramcharran, 28, has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal arguing that his conviction cannot stand. He is asking that his sentence be set aside.
In 2015, a 12-member jury found Ramcharran guilty for the rape and assault committed on an adult female at a dance at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara on July 22, 2012.

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.

Trial Judge Jo-Ann Barlow, at the High Court, sentenced him to serve 23 years for the rape and four years for the assault charge.
The sentences are to run concurrently.

According to the evidence, on the date in question, Ramcharran was at the dance where the young woman was present with some friends.
The young woman went to urinate and Ramcharran 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.