By Feona Morrison

A 36-year-old father of two was found guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl a few weeks ago, and last Friday he was given a 16-year prison sentence in the Demerara Criminal Assizes.
In addition to his imprisonment, Oswald Earl Bedlow, a married resident of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), has been directed by Trial Judge Sandil Kissoon of the Demerara High Court to undergo vocational training programmes and counseling sessions specifically designed for sexual offenders.

The 12 jurors unanimously concluded that on December 22, 2022, in the county of Demerara, Bedlow called “Uncle Wallie”, engaged in sexual penetration with the victim without her consent.
The girl was raped by Bedlow two weeks after her sixteenth birthday, according to court documents.  According to the prosecution’s facts, on the day in question, Bedlow made the girl drive to a remote location where he sexually assaulted her.
He then dropped her off at another place and drove off.

A probation officer informed the court last Friday that Bedlow was adamant that the teenager initiated the act. The officer said that Bedlow’s family and friends described him as a very happy family man, and expressed shock that he was involved in the crime.
Ronald Bostwick, Bedlow’s attorney, asked the court to be compassionate with his client during a plea in mitigation, arguing that State Counsel Marisa Edwards’ suggested starting point of 17 years was “totally excessive.” Bostwick asked the court to consider the fact that his client did not use physical force or threats prior to, during, or after the offence was committed, nor was there any evidence that he groomed her. “This man acted in an out of character way on that day. What happened is not something that happened before or is expected to happen again,” he said.

To speak to what he described as Bedlow’s good character, he highlighted his client’s prior unblemished criminal record. The defence attorney submitted that the mitigating circumstances exceeded the aggravating factors, highlighting his client’s breach of a position of trust in reference to the latter. He continued by stating that Bedlow expressed regret for the psychological harm he had inflicted on the victim and her family and admitted his role in the crime. When given a chance to address the court, an expressionless Bedlow said: “For whatever wrong I have done, I ask for forgiveness. Most importantly, I ask God for forgiveness.”

BETRAYED
The court also heard from the girl’s statement in which she detailed the psychological and other trauma Bedlow’s actions continue to cause her.  The victim told the probation officer that she felt violated, betrayed, and hurt by what Bedlow had done to her.
The victim, who is now 18 years old, expressed in her victim impact statement read by her mother, that she has fears and no longer trust people, especially males.
“I had respect for him [Bedlow]. When he raped me, I did not expect that from him. I am happy my mother believed me when I told her. I told her and he admitted that he raped me. I no longer trust people, especially males,” the victim impact statement read.
Her mother fought back tears as she told the judge that her daughter wanted the attacker to spend a very long time behind bars in order to prevent him from hurting anyone else.
The victim said that the incident affected her mother psychologically and that it makes her sad to see her in that state.

PREMEDITATED ACT OF RAPE
In his sentencing remarks, Justice Kissoon noted that Bedlow had violated a position of trust.
He bemoaned the fact that Bedlow had earned the girl’s trust, confidence, and affection, and that he had responded to her with acts of indecency and violence.
The judge came to the conclusion that Bedlow had not shown any sincere regret for the suffering and agony he had caused the girl by the “premeditated act of rape” after reviewing his testimony to the court and his conversations with the probation officer.
“This is an offence of rape. This is an offence against the State,” Justice Kissoon emphasised.
He made reference to Guyana’s highest court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), expressing concern that sexual offences against children in Guyana had gotten to the point of a crisis.
Emphasising the gravity of the crime, the judge stated that rape belongs in a class of offences that are deemed heinous and that the court will do its part to send a strong message to perpetrators and would-be offenders. He said that there has not been a decrease in this offence based on data from the Child Care and Protection Agency.
According to Justice Kissoon, life imprisonment is the maximum punishment reserved, but he did not believe that this case was the worst of the worst.
Ultimately, he sentenced the former driver to 16 years in jail and mandated that he received credit for the time he spent on remand as well as programmes to aid in his rehabilitation.