A TWENTY-eight-year-old man pleaded guilty to raping a child a few weeks ago, and on Tuesday, he was given a 12-year prison sentence in the Demerara Criminal Assizes.
Gallard Gill, known as ‘Daddy Boy’ of Linden, appeared before Justice Damone Younge at the Demerara High Court to answer a charge of raping a child under the age of 16.

Prosecutors Simran Gajraj, Padma Dubraj, and Geneva Wills underscored the child’s young age and the lasting impact of the crime on both the victim and the victim’s family as key aggravating factors. Citing the widespread incidence of child sexual abuse in Guyana, the prosecutors urged the court to hand down a sentence that would deter both Gallard and potential offenders.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Younge weighed both aggravating and mitigating factors and determined that a starting point of 18 years was appropriate.

However, Gallard received a one-third reduction for his early guilty plea.

As a result, he was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and ordered to participate in all available prison rehabilitation programmes during his incarceration.

Attorney-at-law Tonza Sarrabo represented the convict.