Appeal Court reduces jail time for man convicted of raping girl, 5

Omadat Persaud who is currently serving 45 years jail time for raping a five-year-old girl in 2015, had his prison term reduced to 25 years by the Court of Appeal on Thursday.

Back in 2018, Persaud stood trial before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall at the Georgetown High Court.

Persaud called “Roshi” had denied molesting the child between August 1st and 31st, of 2015.

After a 12-member jury found him guilty, he was sentenced to 45 years in prison, 35 of which trial Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall ordered that he must serve before becoming eligible for parole.

Persaud subsequently appealed, claiming that his conviction was unjust. He argued that the sentence imposed upon him was excessively severe.

The appeal was heard by Chancellor (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud.

In delivering the court’s ruling, the Chancellor upheld Persaud’s conviction and allowed his appeal on sentencing on the basis that the trial judge had not adhered to the established sentencing guidelines.

The Court of Appeal re-sentenced Persaud to 25 years, with parole after serving 15 years.

He was given full credit for the time he had already spent in pre-trial custody.

Persaud was represented by Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes while Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Teshana Lake presented the State’s case.