Man serving 25 years for sodomizing girl, 17, files appeal

Paul Abrams, the man who was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for sodomy and indecent assault committed on a 17-year-old girl, has moved to the Guyana Court of Appeal where he is asking for his conviction and prison term to be set aside.

The offences were committed on December 5, 2007, at Land of Canaan, East Bank of Demerara. Following a trial in 2016 before Justice Jo Ann Barlow, Abrams, 43, was found guilty of the offences by a jury. The judge sentenced him to 25 years on the sodomy charge and four years on the charge for indecent assault. The judge ordered that two sentences are to be served concurrently.

It was previously reported that Abrams lured the young girl into a dark room and forcefully sodomised her and placed his penis into her mouth against her will. After committing the act, it was reported that Abrams left, and the young girl was later found crying and humming to herself in the room. She could have barely walked.

During a brief hearing on Tuesday, Abrams’ lawyer, Nigel Hughes requested more time to file submissions. 

The court comprising Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud granted the request. Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Dionne McCammon was granted time to reply. The Court of Appeal will commence hearing in this case on February 19, 2021.