Jury Finds Region Three Man Guilty of Attempted Rape on Young Child
January 8 2025
A High Court jury in Demerara has convicted 44-year-old Ganesh Lewis of Region Three, Essequibo Islands–West Demerara, of attempting to rape a four-year-old child, bringing to a close a trial that examined events dating back to August 2022.
The verdict was delivered unanimously after jurors considered evidence led under the Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 8:03.
The matter was heard before Chief Justice (ag) Navindra Singh.
While Lewis had faced two counts, including rape of a child under the age of 16, the jury acquitted him of that charge but found him guilty on the alternative count of attempted rape.
The case centred on an incident that occurred on August 2, 2022, at a shed connected to a barbershop.
During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence that a nearby resident observed Lewis and the child in a compromising situation, with both having their pants down.
The witness intervened and questioned Lewis, who subsequently left the location with the child.
The child’s relatives, who were acquainted with Lewis as a close family friend, reported the matter to the police shortly after. Lewis was arrested two days later, on August 4, 2022, and denied the allegation.
In his defence, Lewis told the court that he had been asleep at home when the child called out to him.
He claimed he later went to the barbershop to lift the child from a stool and maintained that the circumstances had been wrongly interpreted.
The prosecution countered that the barbershop was closed at the time and argued that Lewis could not have heard anything from his residence.
Lewis was formally charged on January 27, 2023.
Following a preliminary inquiry, a magistrate ruled on September 21, 2024, that there was sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case, leading to his committal to stand trial at the High Court.
Lewis was represented by attorney-at-law Ronald Bostwick. The prosecution was led by attorney Simran Gajraj, with assistance from attorneys Christopher Belfield and Geneva Wills.
Sentencing has been scheduled for January 21, 2026.
