Attorney Hinds absent — rapist ‘Mash up’ for sentence today

THE ABSENCE of Defence Attorney Fitzgerald Hinds yesterday caused High Court Judge Rajendra Narine to adjourn the sentencing of a Cumuto man, who was found guilty of having sexual intercourse with a female under 14 — the victim was 12 years old at the time of the incident.

The nine-member jury found John Jobity, also known as “Mash-up,” guilty by a seven-two majority verdict after deliberating for the maximum three-hour period. They also informed the court that additional time would not assist them in arriving at a unanimous verdict in the matter. Following the guilty verdict, Justice Narine made the observation that Hinds was not present in the court and was informed that “he would be back shortly.” The judge then told State Attorney Nalini Singh that in the absence of Hinds, he would adjourn the sentencing to today since the defence had to present their mitigation plea. The evidence presented to the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court by the State was that around 11 am on Sunday November 25, 2001, the victim left her Cumuto home and rode her bicycle to a nearby shop to purchase ice for her mother. On her way to the shop, she met Jobity, who told her that he had a surprise for her.

After making her purchases, the shop’s proprietor agreed to walk back part of the way with her. He walked with her a short distance and then left her.The court heard that the victim was pushing her bicycle up a hill when Jobity grabbed her from behind and pulled her into some bushes where he raped her. The young lady then went home and told her mother what had happened to her on the way home. The mother, together with some villagers, mounted a search for Jobity and found him, whereafter they tied him up, beat him and then called the police. When the police arrived, they took him to the Arima Hospital where he was treated and later taken to the Arima Police Station and charged for the offence. In her testimony, the victim told the court that she had known Jobity for at least seven years prior to the incident.