Life sentence for man who raped teen girl

A man found guilty last month of raping a 13-year-old girl has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

On Thursday morning, 32-year-old Mark Samuels appeared before Justice Navindra Singh at the Sexual Offences Court in Demerara.

Samuels of North Sophia, Greater Georgetown must serve 30 years before he becomes eligible for parole.

At his sentencing hearing, Samuels told the court that he was “sincerely sorry” for what had taken place and begged the Judge to be lenient so that he can be part of his two minor daughters’ life.

Meanwhile, the girl, who is now 16, expressed that the sexual abuse has changed her life forever.

“You took away my confidence, my independence, my own voice, my natural gentleness. You are dirt to me,” she said as she addressed Samuels in her victim impact statement.

In his sentencing remarks, Justice Singh asked Samuels: “How can you be sorry for something you say you are not responsible for?”

In so doing, the Judge alluded to Samuel’s probation report in which it was stated that he told a probation officer that he did not commit the crime.

In light of this, his statement was deemed “self-serving” by Justice Singh who noted that the sex offender appeared ready and willing to say anything to secure his freedom.

According to him, Samuels perpetrated a “barefaced and bold act that has ruined this child’s life forever”. 

In late June, the jury in a proportion of 10-2, convicted him of the offence of sexual activity with a child. The crime was committed on January 27, 2021, in the county of Demerara.

Senior State Counsel Tiffini Lyken prosecuted the matter. Samuels was represented by Attorney-at-Law Clevaun Humphrey.

On the day in question, Samuels touched the girl inappropriately before raping her (vaginal penetration), even as she tried pushing him off of her.

After the ordeal, the girl told her mother what transpired, and a report was made to the Police. As a result, Samuels was arrested, charged and later convicted of the crime.

In 2021, Samuels was charged with stealing 66 COVID-19 vaccination cards from the Health Ministry’s Brickdam, Georgetown office. At that time, he worked as a driver at the said ministry.

The charges were however dismissed the following year for want of prosecution.

Between 2017 and 2018, while he was employed with the Ministry of Education, Samuels admitted that he was convicted of a fraud-related offence.