Father of two guilty of rape

Phillip was tried for the three offences and kidnapping before Justice Larry Lalla at the Port-of-Spain Fifth Criminal Court.

The nine-member panel returned a “not-guilty” verdict on the kidnapping charge but a verdict of “guilty” on the other charges.

According to evidence led by State attorney Candia James, on April 7, 1999 Phillip forcibly removed the teenager’s clothes and had protected and unprotected sexual intercourse with her, after he slapped her several times.

A week before the sexual assault, he had taken a chain from around her neck at a parlour in Arima.

When Phillip next saw the victim at El Carmen Road in Arima, the court heard, he told her she would have to go with him to his home if she wanted to retrieve the chain. She refused and he allegedly led her to his house at knife point.

After raping her, Phillip told the victim he wanted to have a relationship with her and offered her $500 as “hush” money.

When she refused the money, the court heard, he asked her if she wanted him dead and she replied in the affirmative. Phillip then handed her a bottle of gramaxone to pour down his throat, but when she attempted to do so, he asked her if she was crazy and then allowed her to leave.

The victim made a report at the Arima Police Station and Phillip was charged on April 9.

The bottle of weedicide and a used condom were found in his house, and sperm was found on his sheets and a T-shirt he was wearing on the day in question.

In his defence, Phillip claimed the virtual complainant had asked him on two occasions to kill her stepfather, whom she claimed molested her.

Phillip, who spent seven years in prison awaiting trial, was released on own bail in January and according to his attorney Larry Williams, has no previous convictions. He will be sentenced on May 18.