Justice Adrien-Roberts Gives Last Sentencing by Imposing 11 Years on Sodomist
Justice Wynante Adrien-Roberts has sentenced 26-years-old Shamiguel James to 11 years and 9 months for committing sodomy with minor. Given that the judge has been transferred to St. Lucia, sentencing James to prison for having anal intercouse with a 12-year-old boy was her last sentencing before leaving Dominica.
According to the prosecution, James, a native of Salisbury, had anal intercourse with the little boy on June 22, 2022, when he was 19 and his victim was 12. The prosecution led by state attorney Diana Matthew and Marie Louise Pierre-Louis said the victim and his friends were playing football on the afternoon of the fateful day.
The ball was kicked into the bush and the victim went in search of it. James accosted him and asked him to pull down his pants and then proceeded to commit buggery with him. Medical examination revealed that the victim’s anus was penetrated by a blunt object, possibly an erect penis, and had lessions indicative of blunt force.
During his testimony, the victim said he is constantly bullied by classmates and family members since the incident, and that he feels like relocating from the Salisbury community on account of his shame. He confided in a welfare officer that he is still in shock and has withdrawn from society out of fear. He disclosed that if the right opportunity presents itself, he thinks he is capable of exacting personal vengeance on James.
Pursuant to legislative provisions, Justice Adrien-Roberts said the law applies a sentencing of 16-25 years on James; but after adjustments for his detention and other mitigating factors, he was handed a sentence of 11 years, 9 months and 20 days. He had been in police custody for 246 days prior to his final sentencing. He was represented by Legal AID Clinic.
Mr. Shamiguel James, you have been found guilty by a jury of the offense of burglary…contrary to Section 16:1 (a) of the Sexual Offences Act. For this, I sentence you to 11 years and nine months imprisonment.
Justice Wynante Adrien-Roberts
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