Having been found guilty of raping a woman, Francis Gonzalves will be sentenced this morning by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, at the Sexual Offences Court of the High Court at Suddie, Essequibo.
Following the conclusion of his trial, a jury yesterday afternoon found Gonzalves, a vendor, guilty in a proportion of 10-2 of sexually penetrating the woman without her consent, on March 27th, 2018.
In his brief address to the court the convict expressed the view that he was not given a fair trial and had not gotten to speak to his attorney.
Defence attorney Ravindra Mohabir in a mitigating plea requested a probation report.
The lawyer said that his client is a model prisoner and expressed the belief that if exposed to the correct programmes, he can be rehabilitated and make meaningful contributions to society.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor Tiffini Lyken informed that the convict was already behind bars serving sentences for break-and-enter and larceny, malicious damage to property, disorderly behaviour and breaching a protection order.
Lyken drew the court’s attention to the convict not having showed any remorse—maintaining his innocence—despite the guilty verdict of his peers.
