Man convicted of raping 13-year-old girl

A jury has convicted rape accused Mark Samuels, who was charged with engaging in sexual activity with a girl and could now face life imprisonment.
The charge against him read that on January 27, 2021, in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration with a girl. He had been on trial for the offence before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed 12-member jury at the Sexual Offences Court in Georgetown.

The prosecution said Samuels touched the girl inappropriately and raped her even though she tried to fight him off. After the ordeal, the girl confided in her mother, who in turn filed a report with the Police. Samuels was subsequently arrested and charged with the crime.
In light of the conviction, the trial Judge revoked Samuels’ bail and the now convicted man will return to court on July 13 for his sentencing hearing. Senior State Counsel Tiffini Lyken and State Counsel Nafeeza Baig prosecuted this matter.
Back in 2021, Samuels was charged with stealing 66 COVID-19 vaccination cards from the Health Ministry, Brickdam, Georgetown, between August 22 and August 23, 2021.
However, the charge was dismissed against him the following year for want of prosecution.
The prosecution had contended that during the period mentioned, a female nurse discovered that the lock on the cupboard in which the vaccination cards were stored was broken.
Upon checking, the healthcare worker noticed that the items were missing and alerted her supervisor, who lodged a report at the Brickdam Police Station.