Child rapist sentenced to life in absentia

Three weeks after he absconded his rape trial, 22-year-old Alex Garraway was on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment. The sentence was imposed by Justice Brassington Reynolds at the High Court in Demerara.

On May 27, 2021, Garraway of Lot 1162 Cummings Park ‘E’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown was found guilty in absentia by a jury of raping and engaging in sexual activity with a five-year-old girl. The jury found him unanimously guilty on both counts.

Between November 1 and 30, 2018, in the county of Demerara, Garraway engaged in sexual penetration with the child. Also between the said dates, he engaged in sexual activity with the five-year-old girl by touching her buttocks and putting his penis at her buttocks.

Garraway, who was out on bail, failed to return to court on the last day of his trial.

During a sentencing hearing on Friday, Justice Reynolds said, “I speak with a lump in my throat and a heavy heart for us as a  society. It is never comfortable for a Judge in these circumstances to see a young man [Garraway], a little older than my granddaughter, and who did not dare to face up to the fall out of his conduct and who would have absconded…”

The Judge said that Garraway defiled a defenceless girl in the most “violent and barbaric manner.”

Meanwhile, the facts of the case are that while the girl lived with a relative, Garraway raped and sexually assaulted her. The girl told the Police that   Garraway used his “birdie to juck in her vagina.” She also told the Police that he used his “birdie to juck on her bamsy.”

Following the guilty verdicts, an arrest warrant was issued for the convict. He is yet to be apprehended. The child rapist was represented by Attorney-at- Ravindra Mohabir, while State Counsel Nafeezah Baig and State Sarah Martin appeared on behalf of the prosecution.