A 33-year-old labourer, who was found guilty in May on two charges of engaging in sexual activity with a minor, was, on Thursday last, handed an 18-year prison sentence. A mixed 12-member jury found Juewell Williams guilty of committing the crime on a seven-year-old girl.

Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall of the Demerara High Court presided over his trial.

He sexually molested the little child twice, between July 21 and July 31, 2016, and again between July 31, 2016, and June 6, 2018. Williams told the child to keep quiet when he approached her between July 21 and July 31, 2016, according to the prosecution’s evidence.

Then he touched her inappropriately on her private area. The girl told her mother what had happened, but she did nothing. Williams touched the girl once again in the second incident.
The child told her mother again, and she rubbed pepper all over her private part.

Williams’ illegal activities were later discovered, and after the girl’s mother carried her to live with her grandmother, the Child Care and Protection Agency got involved.

On both counts, the perpetrator was sentenced to 18 years in jail. However, the judge decided that the sentences run concurrently, so Williams would only spend 18 years in total.

Throughout the trial, Williams’ defence attorney, Madan Kissoon, made appearances on his behalf, while the prosecution was represented by State Counsel, Muntaz Ali.