James (left) and Richardson will be sentenced on December 13, 2011. Photo: VINO

This is according to Crown Counsel Sarah Benjamin at a sentencing hearing held this morning December 9, 2011. The couple had pleaded guilty in October for procuring a thing or noxious substance to cause a miscarriage and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

After listening to the lawyers' mitigation, Judge Indra Hariprashad-Charles decided that she will sentence the couple on Tuesday December 13, 2011 and they will be on remand until then.

The court heard that text messages between the couple revealed that James expressed her disappointment that Richardson impregnated the VC, and was instrumental in how the event unfolded at the hotel.

Crown Counsel Benjamin also noted that it was James who procured the pills that were inserted in the VC’s private parts and down her throat.

According to Crown Counsel Benjamin, there were seven aggravating factors in the case. She noted that the Crown considered the couple’s action to be a serious one given the risk to the VC, the VC was 17 at the time; pregnant; sufficient degree of planning was involved; it was a joint effort two against one; violence was used; James used a masked to conceal her identity and the VC’s life was put at risk.

The only mitigating factors were that the duo pleaded guilty to two counts on the indictment and are of good character.

Richardson, 25 today issued an apology to the court, the VC and her family.

“I am young man who had a business with his father…. I realized that it was a serious offence,” he added.

Meanwhile, a remorseful James admitted that she made a mistake and apologised to the court, the VC, the VC’s family, as well as her family.

She said she is aware of the embarrassment she has caused, and that her actions are well published in the public and is willing to face the consequences.

“It has affected me dramatically…and I believe I have been imprisoned already,” she added.

In reeling out the facts, Benjamin told the court that the Virtual Complainant (VC), who had a relationship with Richardson, recalled being invited to the hotel by Richardson and upon her arrival saw him texting a number of times. When she asked who he was on the phone with, he called a name whom she knows to be a male friend.

In relation to the attack, the VC recalled that she felt someone on top of her with a black mask on. She could only see the individual’s nose and mouth and was fair in complexion.

The court heard that the person covered her face with “something black” and as she struggled Richardson did not come to her assistance. According to Crown Counsel Benjamin, as she and the person struggled, she fell to the ground and the masked person hit her head three times to the floor, and placed one of their knees on the right side of her stomach.

It was then Richardson opened her legs and inserted some tablets into her private parts using two of his fingers, and some down her throat. In the meantime, the masked individual was squeezing the VC’s throat.

Eventually, the masked person left the room not before the VC saw her pedicure toes and toe-ring.

VINO will published the full details of the proceeding shortly.