Alleged serial rapist Thurston Semple was on Friday found guilty of the gruesome rape and attack carried out on a 30-year-old Venezuelan sex worker.
Semple, a 39-year-old taxi driver of Tucville Terrace, Georgetown, was on trial before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and a 12-member jury at the Demerara High Court.
He had denied that between February 24 and 25, 2021, at Georgetown, he raped the victim. Semple had also denied assaulting the woman on the same day and location.
A 12-member jury after deliberating for almost two hours found Semple guilty of both counts.
The judge deferred sentencing to April 29, 2022. She also ordered that a mental health examination and probation report are conducted on Semple.
The State is represented by prosecutors Muntaz Ali in association with Nafeeza Baig and Latifah Elliot. Semple was represented by attorney-at-law Everton Singh-Lammy.
According to reports, during the period in question, the victim was raped and beaten by Semple at his house after they left a nightclub located at the corner of Robb and Cummings Street, Georgetown.
It is alleged that Semple became abusive towards the victim after she refused to perform a sexual act. It is alleged that Semple held the woman at knifepoint and demanded her to perform the act and after she refused, he beat her.
The victim eventually did what Semple wanted under duress and she later managed to escape by jumping through a window.
Neighbours alerted the police and the victim was rescued by the ranks. The victim also suffered from a fractured rib, multiple concussions, and lacerations about her body.
Semple has pending cases before the court and is currently awaiting trial at the High Court.
