A man, who professed to be a born-again Christian, was yesterday (Thursday) sentenced to 14 years, 11 months and 19 days in prison, for having sex with an 8-year-old girl.
Justice Brian Cottle handed down the penalty at the High Court Criminal Assizes. A nine-member jury had on November 23 found Kawanie Williams, 26, of Green Hill, guilty of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13. Sentencing was adjourned.
The accused, who was 19 at the time, had seized the opportunity to force himself on the 8-year-old in November 2013, when the victim had gone to the home of the accused to have his sister help her with her school lessons.
His sister went to a bedroom to lie down and when the accused arrive home he met the child in the living room watching television. He pulled her into another bedroom and had sex with her. When he was finished, he told her to return to living room and he left.
The accused was represented by Attorney Stephen Williams who told the Court that his client was a Christian and attended Tabernacle Church at Green Hill.
The lawyer acknowledged that the ages of the victim and the accused constituted an aggravating factor in this case. He also noted that the matter had gone through a full trial.
He highlighted the fact that his client had no previous convictions, and was remorseful of his action.
He suggested that a 10-year sentence would be appropriate in keeping with the case law.
But Justice Cottle contended that there were sentencing guidelines he would have to follow in arriving at a sentence.
The Judge then proceeded to do the necessary calculations, as he weighed the mitigating and aggravating factors.
The sentence took effect from yesterday.