Already serving 15 years for murder; ‘Cross Eye’ gets 13 more for raping, assaulting teen

Corwyn Arthur called ‘Cross Eye’ was on Monday sentenced to serve over 13 years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl in 2013 and an additional 18 months for brutally beating her during the attack.

The sentence will commence after he completes serving a current 15 years jail sentence for fatally stabbing his ex-lover’s husband in 2018.

Arthur, formerly of Cinderella City, Amelia’s Ward, Linden was sentenced by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Demerara High Court on Monday.

In March, a 12-member jury found Arther guilty of engaging in sexual penetration with the 16-year-old victim on December 17, 2013.  He was also found guilty of assaulting the victim during the course of the rape.

The State was represented by prosecutors Muntaz Ali in association with Nafeeza Baig and Latifah Elliot while Arthur was represented by Attorney Madan Kissoon.

Justice Sewnarine-Beharry, while delivering her sentencing remarks, told the court that she considered Arthur’s use of violence while being armed with a weapon when he committed the act.

The Judge said that Arthur did not use a condom when he viciously raped the victim and she was ridiculed by persons in her community.

In the end, the Judge sentenced Arthur to serve 13 years and five months for rape, and 18 months for assault. These sentences will run concurrently and he will only have to serve 13 years.

According to reports, the victim was walking home from a friend’s birthday party when she was attacked by Arthur, who was armed with a knife.

Arthur threatened to kill her if she didn’t comply. The victim raised an alarm and Arthur hit her to her head with his knife causing her to bleed from injuries.

He then dragged her into nearby bushes and placed the knife to her neck and raped her. She later managed to escape and picked up Arthur’s cell phone which fell out of his pocket during the attack.

The matter was reported to the police and Arthur was later arrested.

The victim in her impact statement to the Court said that at the time of the crime she was in the fifth form and was preparing to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.

She also said that Arthur raped her without a condom and she was tormented by persons in her community and friends who accused her of contracting HIV.

“I was scared to go back to school. I eventually went because I had to go to lessons. I made up my mind to go face everybody. It was really hard for me,” the victim said in her statement.

She further explained that the incident has left her unable to trust people and she is constantly living in fear.