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Attorneys suggest life sentence for incest

Lawyers have argued that a sentence of ten years in prison is wholly unbelievable and unacceptable for persons convicted of the crime of incest and have expressed that legislators should instead increase the penalty to a life sentence. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Lawyers have argued that a sentence of ten years in prison is wholly unbelievable and unacceptable for persons convicted of the crime of incest and have expressed that legislators should instead increase the penalty to a life sentence.

The arguments were made before High Court Justice Vicki Ann Ellis during a sentencing hearing last week for a Jamaican national accused of three counts of incest and three counts of indecent assault against a minor. The acts allegedly took place repeatedly over a three year period and began when the child was eleven years old.

The man, whose name is being withheld due to the fact that he is closely related to the victim, is expected to be sentenced on July 3, 2014. He was represented by attorney Patrick Thompson by way of Legal Aid assignment.

The court heard that the victim had commenced counselling but this was subsequently abandoned at some point. The court recommended that the child, who remains in the care of her mother, should receive counselling.

Thompson argued that the penalty had not changed in the Virgin Islands simply because no one had thought to address their mind to the issue and agreed with Senior Crown Counsel Valston Graham that the maximum penalty should be increased to life to bring it in line with other serious offences.

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