Man pleads guilty to incest

DEFENCE ATTORNEY Keith Scotland yesterday likened his client to the biblical figure Saul, who changed his life and became an important and meaningful member of society. Scotland said so while making a mitigation plea in a trial in which Barataria resident pleaded guilty to incest. The 41-year-old man pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before Justice Ivor Archie in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Criminal Court yesterday. He was remanded in custody for sentencing tomorrow. Following the guilty plea, State attorney Kathy-Ann Waterman-Latchoo explained that on October 3, 2000, the accused and a female relative were sitting in the living room of their Barataria home, when she observed him staring at her. Feeling uncomfortable the victim asked the accused to leave.

He got up and went to the kitchen. He returned a short time later and told her he was not leaving. He told her he would cut her up in pieces and would make her life a living hell. He also told her that when he was finished with her, she would not be able to walk the road with her head up and that her son would not want to be around her. The victim got up and went to the kitchen. The accused followed her and pushed her, getting scratched in the process. He then told her that she “had run his blood and had to pay.” Armed with a knife, the accused took the victim by the hand, led her to the bedroom and ordered her to undress, which she did. He then had sex with her twice. The accused left the house to purchase cigarettes and the relative called the police. When the accused returned he was arrested and taken to the Barataria Police Station, where he gave a cautionary statement to PC Robert Walker in which he admitted to having sex with his relative.