How Could You? Hall of Shame-St.Vincent and the Grenadines-Benjamin Roberts

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Kingstown, St. Vincent, a “63-year-old man was sentenced to 12 years in prison after he was found guilty of three counts of rape and one count of indecent assault against his foster daughter, 12 years ago.

Benjamin “Ben” Roberts from the west coast community of Mahoe, Lowmans, had been accused of carrying out the crime at his home between 2004 and 2006. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison on each count of rape and one year on the indecent assault. The sentences will run concurrently.

The Social Welfare Department had placed the girl and her younger sister into the custody of the couple after their mother had died.

The court heard that Roberts’ wife operated a business, leaving the house early in morning. Benjamin used the opportunity when the older of the two girls was getting ready for school to sexually assault her.

The court was told that Roberts had threatened to kill the girl if she reported the sex acts.

The matter only came to the attention of law enforcement officials in 2012, after the girl became an adult, and years after she reported the abuse to her pastor and the Social Welfare Department.

Crown Counsel Karim Nelson, who prosecuted the case, welcomed the decision of the jurors and the judge.

“I think it is really significant because what it shows is that jurors are listening to the evidence and they understand, I suppose, the psychology of rape victims, because, people respond differently to rape,” he later told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

“Some might report it immediately, others might take some time to get the courage. It is an important signal so that perpetrators would know that there would be consequences for their action, even if that consequence is not immediate.”

Nelson also had advice for persons who are rape victims but might be thinking that too much time has elapsed or that it would be too difficult to get a conviction.

“My advice is that there is no statutory limitation on rape. If a rape occurred 20 years ago, that matter can still be prosecuted. So my advice will really be that people should not have any fear of coming forward,” he added.”

St Vincent man jailed for raping foster child [Jamaica Observer 7/20/16 by CMC]

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