Stepfather held in rape of 5 year old girl

It is, unfortunately, not an unusual crime…but the report of a sadistic child rape in Belize City today sent a shockwave of revulsion through the community. Whether heard on the radio talk shows or around the office water cooler, the question persisted: why?

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
?He hurt me and made me cry? That?s what a five year old girl told her mother happened after she was left in the care of her common law step father. The young man identified only as a twenty-eight year old living in the Mahogany Street Extension Area, is accused of penetrating the child in her vagina and anus.

Ava Pennil, Director of Human Services
?Sexual assault against any child is difficult and hard and even atrocious. This is a five-year-old child that has been molested and this will affect this child for a long, long time. It will affect the family. It is something against society, something that society should be against. We are hurting children, very young innocent, five year old child and this child is being hurt by somebody that should protect the child.?

The assault occurred at the child?s home on January second. The mother has told police on that day she had left her daughter in the care of her common-law husband and upon her return, the child told her that she had been hurt. The suspect, who is detained in the police holding cell on Queen Street, has not yet been charged but according to police press officer G. Michael Reid the mother is working closely with investigators.

G. Michael Reid, Police Press officer
?The mother is fully cooperating. Obviously, any person, who looks at a five year old child and sees the hurt that is suffered there, is not going to think twice.?

News 5 understands the mother and her common law husband were living together for four years. Authorities would not confirm whether or not if it was the first time that the child had been assaulted. Police say the suspect has told them that he is not guilty.

G. Michael Reid
?Well, there is a denial there so we do not know what eh is feeling inside, but certainly he is suggesting that he didn?t do it.?

Recent advertisements by the National Committee for Children and Families, N.C.F.C. have been encouraging parents to listen to their children. Director of Human Services, Ava Pennil, says from the information she has seen so far in the case, it is encouraging to note that the child not only reported the incident to her mother, but the mother went to the police the day after it happened.

Ava Pennil
?Years ago that might not have happened she might have felt too ashamed to report it, she might have felt that it was her fault, all things might go through her mind. But I think it was positive that she reported it that she reported it so early.?

?The mother?s testimony and the mother?s support of her child is crucial from now right through the process so she can?t give up or change or her mind. We want her to continue to support her child.?

Pennil says the system that is in place to protect children like the five year old in this case, is not perfect, but the work is in process to ensure that persons who assault the most vulnerable are held accountable for their actions. Pennil says that it is very important for parents to remain vigilant when they are in a position to give corroborating evidence.

Ava Pennil
?We need to help children as they go through the process testifying in court. How they give evidence in court, how they get evidence from children in court. Those are very tough, tough decisions and children that have been abused already and then have to face this. It is even hard for women that have been sexually abused or raped to go in front of a court even now worse for a child. So in those areas we have to strengthen it to even protect children that are within the system.?

Up to newstime no charges had been formally brought against the suspect, who remains in detention at the Queen Street Police Station.