12 years later, girl raped at 4 still sad, but tells abuser no longer afraid

Former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officer Dwayne Hamilton was on Friday sentenced to 12 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of raping a 4-year-old on February 21, 2007.

At the time of the incident, Hamilton was 16.

Hamilton was on trial before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow in the Sexual Offences Court of the High Court and was found guilty for the charge by a 12-member jury.

Hamilton was represented by Attorney, Ravindra Mohabir while the State’s case was presented by Prosecutors Lisa Cave, Seeta Bishundial and Sarah Martin.

The victim impact statement explained that the victim, now 16, still feels sad and embarrassed and loses focus in school.

The victim pleaded in the impact statement for Hamilton to be jailed and she wanted him to know that she is no longer afraid of him.

Justice Barlow in her sentencing explained that the court has to advocate against child rape and sentenced Hamilton to 12 years imprisonment.

Barlow explained that the sentencing was metered at 12 years because at the time Hamilton was 16, also a juvenile.

The Judge also ordered that Hamilton undergo counselling while in prison so that he can be rehabilitated upon his release.

According to the facts of the matter, the victim had just exited the washroom when Hamilton grabbed her and took her to the back of the yard where he raped her.

The court was told that the child’s mother caught him in the act and reported the matter to the Police.

Hamilton was subsequently arrested after being on the run for a short while.