By John Denny Observer Reporter
(Charlestown, Nevis) ” A man convicted of having sex with his 12-year-old daughter was sentenced to 10 years in Her Majesty’s prison. He was facing a maximum of a life sentence. The counsel for the defense said the incident was “only a snapshot of an otherwise exemplary life” and that the convicted man, a former police officer, had lost his job as a security guard because of the case. “The conviction is punishment enough. Sending him to prison will repair no life,” the counselor said. Counsel also pointed out that his client had never been in trouble with the law before and he was, in fact a good husband, father and provider to his family. The defense asked that no custodial sentence be handed down because his client had suffered enough already. The case had been to trial once, but ended with a hung jury. When it was tried again, in closed court due to the sexual nature, the daughter’s testimony brought a jury to a majority decision of guilt. Prosecution for the Crown, represented by Director of Public Prosecution Pauline Hendrickson, asked for a sentence of 20 years. After weighing the mitigating against the aggravating circumstances, Justice Ianthea Liegertwood-Octave said because there was no violence, she was not going to impose a 20 year sentence, but there would be time to serve. “The most aggravating circumstance is the age of the victim,” said Justice Octave. “There was no violence, but she was only 12 years old. You should have been the one to protect her. Sexual offenses bring about revulsion to society, but incest is a whole different level. This is a crime society views in a very particular way. What kind of message would this court be sending if I did not give a custodial sentence?” At the end of the hearing, Justice Octave instructed the press to not reveal the particulars of the incestuous encounter between the man and his daughter, nor either of their names in print.
