News

Man gets 7 years behind bars for child rape

April 23, 2015 5:22 am

The Lautoka High Court has sentenced a man to 7 years in prison for child rape in 2011.

The court heard that the man was the girls’ uncle who was staying with the family at the time of the incident.

In sentencing the man Judge Justice Paul Madigan said the sentence was a lenient one in recognition of the age of the accused and his remorseful plea of guilt which saved the child from giving evidence.

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Justice Madigan added that in these types of cases it was crucial to strike a balance between passing punishment and retribution.

He says every attempt must be made to keep a young offender from prison and to rehabilitate him when faced with such a serious crime.

However, he adds the court must also act in the interests of the public and act to deter others who might want to follow the same course of action.

The man will have to serve a minimum of five years imprisonment before being eligible for parole.