After being convicted and placed on remand for little over two months for the rape of a minor, 41-year-old Morris Johnson was on Friday handed down a sentence of 18 years behind bars by Justice Brassington Reynolds.
Jailed: Morris Johnson
Johnson was found guilty of the charge by a 12-member jury back in July, after being on trial before Justice Reynolds at the Sexual Offences Court at the Demerara High Court. Johnson was slapped with the charge, which detailed that between August 12 and August 13, 2017 in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 16.
The probation revealed that several persons in Johnson’s neighbourhood firmly believed that he was involved in such acts; however, his wife described him as a “hardworking and caring” husband, who cares for his family.
Attorney Keoma Griffith in a plea of mitigation told the court that his client is the sole breadwinner for his family, is a father of two, and is currently expecting a third child. This, he asked the court to consider when handing down the sentence.
However, State Prosecutor Abigail Gibbs contended that a sentence be passed on Johnson, which will deter others for committing such an offence and also given the negative impact the experience had on the victim.
As such, Justice Reynolds imposed the aforementioned sentence while informing that the convict will be eligible for parole after serving 15 years.
