Woman raped in front boyfriend

INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into an incident at the Botanic Gardens where on Wednesday night, a couple was attacked by two men who raped the woman in front of her helpless boyfriend.

This latest attack has prompted Port-of-Spain police to issue a stern warning to late night limers to either stay away from the gardens, or exercise extreme caution and lime in large groups, to stave off attacks. According to police reports, around 8 pm, the 20-year-old woman of Morvant was liming at a secluded spot inside the gardens with her 19-year-old boyfriend who lives in Maraval. Two men, both dressed in dark clothing and one armed with a gun, held up the couple and relieved the boyfriend of $180 in cash and his cellular phone valued at $1,000.

They then herded the couple deeper into the gardens and after crossing a small hill, tied up the man and threw him on the ground. The bandits then turned their attention to the woman, ordering her to strip. They then took turns raping her in front of her helpless boyfriend. After the assault, the men ran off leaving the crying woman to untie her boyfriend. The couple went to the St Clair police station and made a report. A team of officers immediately carried out an extensive search of the Botanic Gardens and surrounding areas in a futile attempt at capturing the rapists.

The woman was later taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where the District Medical Officer (DMO) medically examined her and confirmed to investigators that she had been sexually assaulted. Up to late yesterday no arrests had been made and St Clair CID officers were continuing investigations. Senior POS officers are calling on the public to exercise more vigilance in choosing areas to lime at especially at nights, since bandits and rapists lurk in popular liming spots at night, waiting for their unsuspecting victims.