Rapist calls on Jesus to curse jurors

Justice Davan Rampersad will sentence Donnor on November 2 for raping a 19-year-old girl on February 16, 2002. The jury deliberated yesterday, and when the foreman announced the guilty verdict, Donnor held his head in his hands and cried.

Donnor began to pray aloud in the courtroom, and after Rampersad postponed sentencing and had left the courtroom, the accused began his outburst. Pointing to the jurors, he said, "May Jesus curse all of you and your families 100 times fold. The accused man also made remarks against the victim, who sat in the public gallery.

The victim testified before the judge and jury that she went to Donnor's house with a male and female friend on that fateful day. Donnor, she said, walked over to an abandoned unfinished house, where he attempted to kiss her. The victim said she pushed him away, but the accused overpowered her and pulled her dress open. The victim told the court that when she began to cry, Donnor pushed her on to some bricks and had sex with her.

The victim testified that she returned to the house and met her friends. They all went to their respective homes. Two days later, the victim went to Donnor's pastor and reported the incident. Two more days passed, the girl said, then she and the pastor went to the Point Fortin police and made a report.

Sgt David Cooper investigated the incident and arrested Donnor.

In his defence, Donnor denied raping the victim, telling the jury that he and the victim had consensual sex.

Rampersad yesterday ordered a probation officer's report on Donnor in preparation for the sentencing.