Forty-year-old Orlan Roberts who sexually assaulted an 11-year-old as she slept, was on Thursday handed a life sentence and a firm rebuke by High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon.
Referencing the evidence before the court as he recalled what the child was made to endure at the hands of the rapist, Justice Kissoon made it clear that the maximum penalty was warranted.
In deference to case law precedent, however, Roberts would become eligible for consideration of parole after serving 18 years behind bars.
Justice Kissoon spared no time in calling Roberts out for his actions which he likened to beastly tendencies.
The facts presented by the prosecution against Roberts, to which he admits, was that on the day in question—July 4th, 2022—he raped the child while she slept.
Prosecutors Nafeeza Baig and Latifah Elliot in presenting their case told the court that the assault was witnessed by the child’s younger sister.
At the trial which was conducted in-camera at the High Court in Georgetown, the child testified about what she had seen Roberts do to her older sister who awoke during the act.
Clearly reviled, the Judge noted that even after being caught in the act by the other child, Roberts did not cease his assult, but instead resorted to threatening the sister who started screaming.
At his arraignment last month, Roberts pleaded not guilty to the charge of raping the child and in professing his innocence, a trial commenced.
Half way through the trial, however, the offender indicated to the court through his attorney that he was ready to accept responsibility for his actions.
The charge was then re-read to Roberts who at that point admitted that he had in fact raped the child.
At the sentencing hearing on Thursday, Justice Kissoon was swift in expressing the view that Roberts’ eventual guilty plea was a mere ploy, given the strength of the prosecution’s case and the overwhelming evidence it was set to present against him.
A medical examination revealed the extent and severity of the injuries the child sustained during the assault.
Justice Kissoon was keen in pointing out the seriousness of the offence of rape which he made clear the judiciary sets its face against.
He went on to add that as with murder and treason, rape is included among the most serious of offences; even as he bemoaned that the incidence of child rape is now at alarmingly high levels.
In her impact statement to the court, the now 13-year-old survivor asked Justice Kissoon to put Roberts away for the rest of his life.
Defence attorney Jermaine Jarvis made a desperate but unsuccessful plea for clemency, describing his client as a staunch Christian, who he commended to the Court for consideration of a second chance.
The lawyer in his address to the court sought to explain that his client’s actions were the result of binge drinking, but Justice Kissoon was swift in his reprimand that there was no justification for the offence.
Meanwhile, when given his chance to address the court, the offender said that he was sorry for what he had done and begged for a second chance and to be forgiven.
Justice Kissoon has ordered that during his incarceration, Roberts is to enroll in programmes tailored to the rehabilitation of sex offenders and alcholics.
