Man Guilty of Sex with 11 Year Old

Details

police

Thursday, 14 March 2013 02:30

By Nicole Shirley

Antigua St. John's - An Old Road man was found guilty in the High Court before Chief Justice Keith Thom on six counts of having sexual intercourse with an under-aged girl.

A 12-member jury convicted Tadj Williams of Old Road of the offences.
 
At the time of the act, the girl was below age 14.

Each count carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The trial, which began on March 5, heard evidence that on six occasions, ranging from March 2009 to April 2010, the accused had sexual intercourse with his female relative.

The complainant, whose identity has been withheld, also gave evidence that on five of the six occasions, the accused arranged to have different boys come to his grandmother’s house to have sex with when she was 11 years old, while the accused stood by and watched.

After the boys left, the accused had sex with his relative, who consented because she believed him when he told her he was testing to see if she was pregnant. After each test, the accused diagnosed that his relative was not pregnant.

Under cross examination, defence attorney Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, the complainant admitted that she had heard Williams being teased about being an “anti-man.”

“You want this court to believe that this anti-man had sex with you?” Benjamin asked.

The court also heard evidence from one of the boys with whom Williams had made arrangements to have sex with his relative. He told the court that on two occasions, Williams called him at night and led him into the home of the accused using the back door into the bedroom of the accused.

Thereafter, the invitee performed oral sex and had sexual intercourse while the accused watched. He testified that the accused told them he didn’t want any “boring sex,” and at one point directed that he wanted to see various sexual positions.

In his defence, the accused denied the allegations. He said he never had any interest in women. He said he had had sexual intercourse before, but not with a woman. Under cross examination by Crown Counsel Shannon Jones, Williams admitted that he had never revealed in his statement or interview with the police that he had a sexual preference for men.

He also claimed that he regarded the complainant as the sister he never had.

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Benjamin defended Williams, while Crown Counsel Shannon Jones led the case for the prosecution, assisted by Crown Counsel Adlai Smith. The accused has been remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison. Sentencing is set for March 26, pending a social inquiry report.

Williams turned 20 on Sunday.

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