Berbice man gets 16 years for 2024 rape of Corentyne woman during home invasion

Anthony Jeffrey, who back in 2024 sexually assaulted a Corentyne, Berbice woman despite her attempts to escape, was on Wednesday sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment after the Berbice High Court applied Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) sentencing guidelines. Jeffrey, also known as “Tony” or “Isaiah”, was sentenced by Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty, who imposed 12 years and eight months for sexual assault and three years and four months for assault.
The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently, with time already spent on remand to be deducted. The court heard that the woman had been asleep when she was awakened by a noise and, upon opening her eyes, saw a man entering her room with a jersey covering his face. As she attempted to flee, she was grabbed by the neck and pulled back into the bedroom, where she was pushed onto the bed and repeatedly assaulted. The attacker dealt her blows about the face, held onto her neck and threatened her, claiming he was armed with both a knife and a gun.

According to the facts outlined by Justice Kumar-Chetty, the accused attempted to engage in sexual intercourse but was unsuccessful. He then sexually assaulted the woman by inserting his fingers while continuing to use force and intimidation. The Judge noted that the ordeal lasted for approximately 30 minutes, during which the complainant resisted but was overpowered.
The attack was eventually interrupted when a neighbour, alerted by the disturbance, raised an alarm, prompting the assailant to flee. In outlining the undisputed facts, Justice Kumar-Chetty said the accused had unlawfully entered the complainant’s home, violated her privacy and security, and used threats and violence to carry out the attack. She stressed that the home is a place to which every citizen is entitled to retreat in safety and peace and that this sense of security was shattered by the accused’s actions.
Medical evidence presented to the court revealed that the complainant sustained injuries consistent with forceful restraint and assault, including trauma to the face and mouth, with visible signs of injury and bleeding. The findings pointed to the use of significant force during the attack. The court also considered the psychological impact on the victim, with evidence indicating that she suffered severe emotional distress, including anxiety and symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
It was noted that she required medical attention and continued to experience the effects of the traumatic incident. In a detailed ruling, Justice Kumar-Chetty explained that the court adopted a structured sentencing approach guided by principles established by the CCJ, emphasising that sentencing must reflect the individual circumstances of each case and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. She noted that the court followed a step-by-step methodology, including determining a starting point, assessing aggravating and mitigating factors and ensuring that the final sentence was proportionate and not manifestly excessive.
Among the aggravating features identified were the unlawful entry into the complainant’s home, the use of threats and violence, the duration of the attack and the vulnerability of the victim. The Judge stressed that offences of this nature are among the most serious, particularly where violence and intimidation are used. The court also took into account mitigating factors, including the accused’s acceptance of responsibility, which spared the complainant the ordeal of a trial, his lack of previous convictions and expressions of remorse. Reports from probation and prison authorities were also reviewed.
Justice Kumar-Chetty emphasised that sentencing must strike a balance between punishment and deterrence while remaining proportionate. Applying the totality principle, she ruled that the sentences should run concurrently, noting that both offences arose from the same incident and that there was no basis to depart from that approach. Jeffrey was represented by Defence Attorney Charlyn Artiga, while the prosecution was led by Marisa Edwards.