A Kilcoy man was sentenced on Wednesday to 12 years for rape and three years for assault of a woman.
Anthony Jeffrey, known as “Tony,” 29, appeared before Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty at the Berbice High Court. He pleaded guilty to breaking into a woman’s home and engaging in sexual penetration without her consent on March 4, 2024. He also pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm to the same woman on the same date.
Under Guyana’s law, Jeffrey had the right to a jury trial where he would be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. However, by pleading guilty, he waived this right.
State Prosecutor Marisa Edwards presented details of the incident, stating that Jeffrey assaulted a woman by entering her bedroom around 00:30 hours on the day in question. After being awakened by noise, the woman screamed and tried to escape, but Jeffrey restrained her, threatening her with a cutlass and a gun. He physically injured her face and head and attempted sexual assault, which included digital penetration and oral sex, lasting about half an hour. A neighbor’s intervention led to Jeffrey fleeing.
Medical exams confirmed multiple injuries, such as lacerations and bruises. After hospital discharge, the woman reported the crime at the Rose Hall Police Station.
Jeffrey initially denied involvement but later admitted to jumping through the window while intoxicated during a recorded interview.
Before sentencing, Justice Kumar-Chetty outlined a structured approach, considering several stages. First, the court assessed the severity of the offense, considering the victim’s vulnerability and the violence involved, setting a starting point of 20 years. Next, it considered aggravating and mitigating factors, such as the offender’s acceptance of responsibility and lack of prior convictions, reducing the sentence by a year. The third stage acknowledged the early guilty plea, maintaining the reduced sentence. Finally, the court considered time already served and the violation of the victim’s sanctuary, along with the psychological impact of the crime, before reaffirming the sentence based on maximum penalties and case specifics.
Kumar-Chetty sentenced Jeffrey to 12 years and 8 months in prison for rape. He also received a sentence of 3 years and 4 months for assault causing actual bodily harm.
The judge ordered that the sentences run concurrently and that time spent in remand be deducted from the total sentence.
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