Sexual Assault Cases in Orange Walk & Belize City
Chester Williams
The two other incidents of sexual assault occurred in Orange Walk and Belize City. Earlier this month, a six-year-old girl, accompanied by her mother, visited a police station in Belize City and the minor reported that on April eleventh of this year, whilst at home, her uncle took her to a bedroom and touched her inappropriately. A medical examination concluded that the minor was carnally known and her injuries were classified as grievous harm. Yesterday, April twenty-sixth, police formally arrested and charged her forty-five-year-old uncle for the crime of “Assault of a Child by Penetration.” Meanwhile, on Saturday, a fifteen-year-old minor reported to police that since October fifth, 2020, she and her younger sister have been living with a forty-two-year-old Belizean Farmer in Orange Walk District. The minor says that they have been engaged in sexual relations since September tenth, 2021 and every month since then with the last incident occurring last Friday, April twenty-second. A medical officer has since certified that the minor was carnally known. This past Monday, the Orange Walk resident was formally arrested and charged for seven counts of unlawful sexual intercourse. If you are wondering about the lapse in time when the allegation is being made versus the date of the purported incident report is made, ComPol Chester Williams earlier this week, explained that the law provides for that.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police [File: April 25th, 2022]
“It is not strange for that to occur. It had happened on numerous occasions before and it is a matter for the court to determine whether or not they will believe the virtual complainant. But you have to appreciate the fact that when these things occur, the victim, women for the most part may be reluctant to come forward particularly due to the social statute of a persons. There may also be other facts that may deter a person from coming forward to make a complaint immediately. So it is not unusual for a victim to come forth that late, after having been done something by someone.”
Duane Moody
“And the law provides for that…”
Chester Williams
“Yes, the law does make provisions for that.”
We note that with the recent amendment of the law pertaining to sexual assault of a minor, the charge to be leveled is rape.
