Thirty-two-year-old Andrew Blackman who raped a fourteen-year-old girl last year has been sentenced to nine years behind bars for the crime.
At his arraignment two weeks ago, Blackman, who Justice Sandil Kissoon described as having expressed genuine remorse, pleaded guilty to the charge of rape of a child under 16 years when it was read to him.
He admitted raping the teen between September 10th and 11th, 2021 and the court heard from a probation report on the offender that not only “does he regret his actions,” but “will accept whatever punishment is handed to him.”
At his sentencing hearing on Tuesday afternoon, Justice Kissoon said the Court had noted the offender’s “real remorse,” adding it was “not cosmetic.”
On this point the Judge said that the records before the court reflect that Benjamin, right up to his arraignment in the High Court, has never requested any “special treatment” or “exemptions” but has accepted responsibility for what he had done.
Notwithstanding those mitigating factors among which Blackman’s previous good character and standing in his community were also highlighted, Justice Kissoon noted that they needed to also be weighed against the aggravating factors of the case.
Against this background, the prevalence of sexual offences committed against children was underscored as well as the trust which the Judge said Blackman breached, by preying on the complainant in a vulnerable moment.
The court heard from the probation report that the complainant related feeling “bad the accused didn’t do the right thing, but took advantage of her while she was just a child.”
The Judge said that in balancing all the factors of the case, the cumulative effect of all the aggravating and mitigating factors illustrates that the offender is capable of rehabilitation and reintegration to society, thus not warranting the imposition of the maximum penalty of life in prison.
He, however, said that the sentence had to also reflect the Court and society’s abhorrence of the act and the pain and suffering the survivor has had to endure.
Justice Kissoon noted that in all the circumstances of the case, the sentence would commence at a base of 15 years. He then deducted one-third for the guilty plea which brought it to 10 years. Therefrom, he deducted an additional year for the mitigating factors.
It was further ordered that Blackman be provided with counselling to aid his rehabilitation.
The State was represented by prosecutors Cicelia Corbin, Caressa Henry and Marisa Edwards. Blackman was represented by defence attorney Teriq Mohammed.
The case was called at the Sexual Offences Court of the High Court in Demerara.
