‘Ratty’ gets 17 years in jail for repeatedly raping 9-year-old girl
A 42-year-old man who repeatedly raped a nine-year-old girl in 2018 and threatened to kill her mother if she ever told anyone was sentenced to 17 years behind bars.
The sentence was imposed on Mario Heywood by Justice Sandil Kissoon in the Demerara Sexual Offences Court.
Last month, Heywood, called ‘Ratty,’ was found guilty as charged with raping the child on three separate occasions during October and November 2018.
Before he was sentenced, Heywood said, “I'm innocent [...] I’m here, and I can't do anything about it.”
For his part, Justice Kissoon reprimanded Heywood for abusing his position of trust while noting the high number of child rape cases in Guyana.
Notwithstanding, the Judge sentenced Heywood to 15 years on the first count and 17 years on the second and third counts, respectively.
The three sentences will run concurrently, and It was further ordered that the convict is to take part in counselling for sex offenders during his time in jail.
Heywood was represented by Attorney Damien Da Silva, while State Counsels Cicelia Corbin, Caressa Henry, and Marisa Edwards presented the prosecution’s case.
