Appeal Court slashes child rapist’s 40-year prison sentence to 25 years

Andrew Hannibal, who was a pastor at the time he was found guilty raping a 15-year-old girl, has had his initial jail sentence of 40 years reduced to 25 years by the Court of Appeal of Guyana.

At the end of a trial in February 2018, Hannibal, the founder of the Faith Deliverance Ministries located at Rosignol, West Coast Berbice (WCB), was found guilty as charged by a mixed 12-member jury of raping the young girl, a member of his church, between January 29 and 31, 2016.

Trial Judge Sandil Kissoon, then, imposed the 40-year jail sentence on Hannibal, ordering that the convict serve at least 30 years before being considered for parole. It was reported that he was caught in a “compromising position” with the teenage girl.

Besides arguing that the Judge did not direct the jury on how to treat the discrepancies, Hannibal, in his grounds of appeal, had argued that he misdirected the jurors on the law of corroboration when he advised them that the medical certificate supported the evidence of the victim.

He had also contended that the Judge’s summation was unbalanced and that his sentence was severe, and not in keeping with sentencing guidelines and the objectives of sentencing.

The Court of Appeal, on Wednesday, dismissed the former pastor’s appeal against his conviction but allowed his appeal against the 40-year sentence, which it found was excessive.

As such, the 40-year prison term was reduced to 25 years and he must serve 18 years before being eligible for parole. The sex offender was also credited for time spent in custody.

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

Senior Counsel Murseline Bacchus represented the rapist, while the State’s case was presented by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Natasha Bakker.

According to reports, Hannibal, who had been a pastor for 29 years and had set up eight of his religious organisation across Guyana.

After the jury had delivered its guilty verdict in 2018, he had apologised to the girl’s family, stating: “To the victim and her family, I am sorry. I know you are hurt. I pray you forgave me as you go on with your life.”