Appeal Court upholds 52-year sentence for kidnap and rape

A MAN claiming to be a Muslim who kidnapped a couple  at gunpoint and raped the woman,  lost his appeal yesterday and had his total sentence of 52 years affirmed by the Court of Appeal.

The court also ordered that Victor Flores start his sentence yesterday instead of the date of conviction, July 20, 2001. His sentences, which total 52 years from a seven count indictment will run concurrently  and he will only spend 12 years in jail with hard labour. Flores’ appeal was argued by Mervyn Campbell while Assistant DPP Devan Rampersad represented the State. Hearing the appeal were Chief Justice Sat Sharma, Justice Lionel Jones and Justice Anthony Lucky. Justice Jones delivered the judgment. On August 4, 1996, Roland Balwant and his girlfriend were in his parked car at Mafeking Ferry Road, Mayaro, at around 6.30 pm when Flores held them up with a shot gun. Flores announced: “Boy , you know how long ah looking for yuh.” Flores then said it was not Balwant  he was looking for but his brother and proceeded to rob him of a gold chain, two gold rings, $150 in cash and his sneakers. Flores sat in the back seat with the woman and ordered Balwant to drive the car further inside the road. While Balwant was reversing to do so Flores fired a shot through the roof of the car.

The car eventually got stuck in mud and the couple was ordered to walk through the bushes until they came to a clearing where Flores ordered them to take off their clothes. About five minutes later, on request from the girl the couple was allowed to put back on their clothes, with the exception of her panties. Flores then asked the couple how they would like to die, by the knife or gun. Balwant selected the knife, and Flores handed it to the woman telling her to stab Balwant. She refused. They went back to the car, pushed it out the mud and went to a house at Lewis and Sucre Street, Mayaro where Flores took the car keys, left the couple in the car and went to a house nearby. He returned about five minutes later and drove to Point Radix Road, Ortoire, Mayaro, where he broke a window in a house and forced the couple to enter as he followed. He left the couple in the house and he drove away. The couple did not try to escape as the area was dark and unfamiliar. Flores returned ten minutes later with a stout for himself and two Malta drinks for the couple.

He took the woman to the car, made her strip and raped her. He later returned to the house and picked up Balwant. He  had threatened to kill the woman if he did not find Balwant in the house when he returned.  They all left the house with Flores driving the car, the woman sitting in front and Balwant in the back seat. During the drive, Flores handed the woman the gun to hold. Although she thought about using it against Flores, she did not know how to use a gun. Flores drove back to Lewis and Sucre Streets and got out of the car.
Flores was later arrested by PC Wayne Doodhai.