Attorney withdraws rapist’s appeal

THE attorney for a convicted rapist was yesterday allowed to withdraw an application to appeal his client’s conviction and sentence after he conceded that no arguable ground for challenge could be found. Appearing on behalf of the appellant’s attorney Keith Scotland, attorney Dawn Mohan submitted a letter to Justices of Appeal Roger Hamel-Smith, Margot Warner and Ivor Archie in the Port-of-Spain Court of Appeal, requesting that the application for withdrawal be granted. The State was represented by attorney Trevor Ward. On January 26, 2004, a nine-member jury at the San Fernando High Court found Anderson Alleyne, of Sixth Company, Indian Walk, guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl.

The 25-year-old maxi-taxi driver had been sentenced to eight years in prison by Justice Rajendra Narine. The State’s case was that on February 2, 2000, Alleyne had forced himself on the teenager at Braff Road,  Princes Town, while she was seated in his vehicle. Alleyne then dropped the young woman off at her home. The youth related the incident to her boyfriend and brother, who both confronted Alleyne and dealt him several blows about the body. The victim went to the police station and while she was giving a statement, Alleyne walked into the station. She immediately pointed him out as the man who had assaulted her.