Two criminal appeals denied by Court of Appeal

Separate appeals by two men convicted of sex crimes have been denied in the Court of Appeal. In September 2006, twenty-two year old Sheldon Baptist was ordered to spend the next seven and a half years behind bars. Through his attorney Lionel Welch, Baptist appealed the decision, but the court struck down his claim. Baptist was convicted of unlawful carnal knowledge and threats of death against a fifteen year old girl. During the trial, the teenager testified that while walking home, Baptist knocked her unconscious, stuffed a shirt in her mouth, raped her, and then threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

The second appeal was presented by Anthony Slyvestre on behalf of his client, forty-five year old Kent Francis. Last November, Francis was sentenced to twelve years at Hattieville Prison for rape, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, and threats of death. That appeal was also denied today. On January 2005, an enraged and jealous Francis forced his way into his victim’s residence, threatened to kill her, and then raped her at gunpoint. Both cases were successfully prosecuted during trial by crown counsel Audrey Matura Shepherd.