PASTOR Andrew Hannibal, who is currently serving a 40-year jail term for raping a 15-year-old girl, had his sentence reduced to 25 years by the Court of Appeal on Wednesday.

In 2018, Hannibal was sentenced by Justice Sandil Kissoon at the Berbice High Court, after a jury found him guilty of the rape which was committed between January 29 and 30, 2016, in the County of Berbice.

The judge had sentenced Hannibal to serve 40 years in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

In his appeal documents, the convict claimed that the trial judge erred in law and that the sentencing was excessive, and too severe.

As such, he asked the court to reserve and/or set aside his conviction and sentence.

The appeal was heard by Chancellor (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud.

The court affirmed Hannibal’s conviction but reduced his sentence to 25 years with the possibility of parole after serving 18 years.

It was ordered that the time Hannibal spent in pre-trial custody will be deducted from his sentence.

According to the facts, a sibling of the victim awoke and discovered that she was not in her bed. As a result, their guardian was informed and a search was carried out. The teen was seen in an outhouse.

In response to questions, she confessed that she was with the pastor.

A report was made to police. Subsequently, she was seen and examined by a medical practitioner who indicated that the child had been sexually violated.