Child rapist Devon Welcome has been sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall in the Berbice High Court on Wednesday, after 12 jurors last month found him guilty of engaging in sexual penetration of a child below the age of 16 years between December 1 and 13, 2019.
The Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) resident had initially denied the charge.
The court heard that, on December 1, 2019, the child’s mother had left her in Welcome’s care and had gone to the neighbouring country of Suriname to trade. Upon her return on December 13, 2019, she picked up her daughter from Welcome’s house and took her home, and while bathing her, the girl complained of experiencing pain in her vagina.
The High Court in Berbice
After her mother had checked her private area and had observed redness and bruising, the woman took her child to the doctor, who, after examining her, discovered that her hymen had been partially perforated.
The doctor referred the matter to the Police, and an investigation was launched, during which the child stated that Welcome had “troubled” her by inserting his finger into her vagina.
Welcome, in his defence, had denied sexually abusing the child. To prove his case, he had called a witness, his cousin, who told the court that Welcome was always at work.
The Prosecution’s case was presented by State Counsel Nafeeza Baig, while Welcome was represented by Attorney at Law Surihya Sabsook.
