Kick-boxer found guilty of raping girl, 8

Boodram was accused of having abducted the girl on the afternoon of August 15, 1998. He then took the eight-year-old in his car to a canefield road where he had sex with her.

Boodram’s trial began in the Second Assize Court last week Monday before Justice Holdip and a jury of nine. State Prosecutor Marlon Sambucha-ran, instructed by attorney Adia Mohammed, led evidence that the girl was standing on a road in Princes Town awaiting transportation.

The girl, who is now 13 years old, testified that Boodram drove up in a car alongside her. She told the judge and jury that the accused pulled her into the car after she refused an offer from him to give her a "drop" in his car.

She said Boodram had a beer bottle in his hand and he threatened to smash and stab her heart with it.

The girl said that Boodram pulled her into the car, then drove to a canefield road. The girl told the jury that Boodram stopped the car in a lonely area and demanded that she undress. She was wearing a green long pants and white jersey. She testified that when Boodram threatened to kill her, he pulled off her pants and underwear. The girl told the court that when she tried to fight him off, Boodram cuffed her.

The girl then told the court how Boodram had sex with her in the car.  Sambucharan told Justice Holdip that Boodram was previously convicted of indecent assault in 1998, and was sentenced to two years in jail.

The prosecutor informed the judge that when the girl made a report about the incident, police officers observed that her eyes, face and back were swollen, and that she had bite marks on her chest and shoulder.

Boodram, who was represented by attorney Chateram Sinanan, denied the allegations. The jury yesterday retired for a verdict and after deliberating, found Boodram guilty of having sex with a girl under 14. The jury also returned a guilty verdict against Boodram on the charge of kidnapping.

Justice Holdip told Boodram that he will pass sentence on him today.