18 years in jail for “Devil” who raped 13-year-old girl

(Caption: Child Rapist: Damon Assanah called “Devil”)

“How ironic it is that you would father a daughter soon after committing these bastardly offences.” That was among the sentiments expressed by High Court Judge Brassington Reynolds to 32-year-old Damon Assanah who was convicted by a jury last month of raping a 13-year-old girl.

Justice Reynolds sentenced the child rapist to serve 18 years’ imprisonment for the “heinous crime” on Thursday following a hearing at the High Court in Demerara.

Initially indicted on three counts of rape committed on the young girl, Assanah called “Devil”, a father of one, who resided at a village along the East Coast of Demerara, was only found guilty on the third count. The jury’s verdict was unanimous.

The charge for which he was found guilty stated that between November 1 and 31, 2015, in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration with a child under the age of 16.

At the time of the rape, the 13-year-old child also became pregnant. The young girl and Assanah are known to each other since she was growing up. Among the series of events that took place in 2015 was one day when Assanah asked the girl to meet him downstairs at her residence.

Assanah instructed the child to get undress, and when she did, he raped her. Still in 2015 when the teen’s mother sent her to the shop, Assanah held onto her hand and placed her into his car. He took her to his home, where he raped her again.

In early December of the same year,  the teen began vomiting while at school and she was taken for medical attention and tests proved she was pregnant. The pregnancy was later aborted.

Meanwhile, the young girl, who is now 19, said that she is still working hard to overcome the trauma of the experience. She expressed joy that she has finally received justice and stated that she wished her mother was still alive to witness this moment.

As for Assanah, the probation officer said he showed no remorse. In fact, the probation officer said that the convicted rapist is still maintaining his innocence. Assanah’s lawyer Ravindra Mohabir has signalled his client’s intention of filing an appeal.

Throughout this trial, State Counsel Sarah Martin and State Counsel Nafeeza Baig appeared for the Prosecution.