BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MONTHS after his arrest for allegedly raping a senior citizen, Denville Newman pleaded guilty to the charge and was handed a custodial sentence.
Newman, said to be in his early 40s, was accused of entering the Cayon district dwelling place of an 83-year-old and raping her.
He pleaded guilty at the beginning of the September 2009 Criminal Assizes and was returned to the court late last week for sentencing.
The facts of the case indicate that on the morning of March 3, 2009, the elderly woman was home alone when the accused entered her house and demanded she remove her underwear; a request she denied. The facts further suggest that he tossed the elderly woman about and sexually assaulted her without her consent.
His Lordship Justice Francis Belle sentenced Newman to 12 years at Her Majesty’s Prison with hard labour and recommended that psychiatric and psychological reviews or treatment be conducted and administered to him during his tenure in prison.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Perez Liddie pleaded guilty to unlawfully and carnally knowing a 13-year-old. The offence was committed on July 20, 2009. According to the facts of the case, the lass went to his house at approximately 10:00 p.m., where he had sex with her, and she left there at about 7:00 the next morning.
The facts further indicated that when the incident was reported to the police and Liddie was taken into custody, he confessed to his wrongdoing while giving a statement.
Liddie’s defence counsel Jason Hamilton suggested to the court that this occasion marked the first time his client appeared before the court for such an offence and that he is involved in community activities. Hamilton spoke of the fact that prior to Liddie’s incarceration, he was gainfully employment as a painter.
He reminded the court that Liddie did not waste the court’s time by taking it through the process of a trial but, rather, pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to do so.
His Lordship, Justice Francis Belle said he took into account the fact that Liddie pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, that he has previous record and that he was very young at the time of commission of the offence.
Liddie was spared custodial sentencing and issued a $10 000 fine which is to be paid within three months or, in default, serve three years at Her Majesty’s Prison.
