BREASTreast-grabber, Kumar Balkarran, 17, of Canefield Settlement, East Canje, was on Wednesday sentenced to six months imprisonment, by Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus, after he was found guilty of sexual assault.Police Inspector, Godfrey Player, who had prosecuted the case, had led evidence to prove that on August 7, 2013, the defendant, a labourer, had assaulted the 34-year-old old virtual complainant, sexually.
The complainant, a nurse, had moments ago left her home to resume the night shift at the New Amsterdam Hospital.
She was walking along Welfare Street, in East Canje, shortly after 21:00hrs, when the defendant, who was wearing a dark green hood, rode past in the opposite direction, grabbing her left side breast as he passed by.
The complainant, who identified her abuser as ‘Drupattie son’, called on him, and asked his reason for doing such an act. He did not respond, but rode off in the dark.
In her evidence, the nurse admitted that she did not know the suspect’s name, but that she knew his mother well.
As a result, she made a complaint to the parent, before reporting the matter to the Reliance Police Station, where charges were instituted.
The matter was initially heard before the court on August 12, 2013. But, adjournments were secured by the defendant and he subsequently changed his lawyers. Further, another long adjournment was given after presiding Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus had gone on annual leave. In addition, summons was also served on the virtual complainant after she encountered difficulty in attending her court hearing.
In sentencing, the Magistrate took into consideration the length of time the case took, and imposed a six month sentence instead of the one year suggestion offered by the police prosecution.
