Coke addict jailed for buggering youth

There is a proliferation of sexual offences in TT on almost a daily occurrence, noted Justice Anthony Carmona, as he sentenced a cocaine addict to seven years hard labour yesterday, on a conviction of buggery. In doing so, he also noted that among the sexual offences, buggery, whether consensual or not,  remains a serious infraction. Radesh Ramdial, 32, of Lawrence Wong Road, Longdenville, Chaguanas, pleaded guilty to buggering a “sickly” 18-year-old boy on October 29, 2002 at Cunupia.

Ramdial used a cutlass to force the boy into the bushes, before buggering him for about 30 minutes. Ramdial was also charged with assault, but after his guilty plea, that charge was dropped by prosecutor Dinanath Ramkissoon. Ramdial was represented by Ryan Cameron. After Ramdial’s guilty plea, the facts were read to the Port-of-Spain Fifth Criminal Court, but Ramdial disagreed with some of the facts. He alleged that the buggery was consensual, saying that he did not have a cutlass. As a result of  the discrepancies, the court decided to hold a “Newton Trial” to determine who was telling the truth. After hearing evidence from both sides, the court rejected the defence’s contention.

Justice Carmona said the court cannot sanction such a heinous act and Parliament, in its wisdom, saw it fit to increase the sentence of buggery to a maximum of 25 years in 2002. He said that by pleading guilty, Ramdial showed his appreciation for the sanctity of judicial time  and accepted the responsibility for his action. Doing so, however, may not be equated with remorse, said Justice Carmona, recalling Ramdial’s claim that the buggery was consensual. “You have besmirched his (victim’s) good name by this allegation. The allegation you made against the victim is serious. You have included him in the crime of which you are guilty, ” the judge said.

He added: “Buggery remains an offence in TT whether consensual or not and represents a serious infraction. However, the issue of consent is immaterial and does not arise in this case, so in light of the court’s finding, this does not have the mitigating effect as intended.”
Before passing sentence, Justice Carmona said that he had taken everything into consideration, even the two years Ramdial spent awaiting his trial.