Moruga rapist to serve 26 years

Moruga resident Patrick Silverton was jailed for 26 years yesterday for savagely raping a mentally-challenged teenage mother in a canefield on Christmas Day 12 years ago. The act was committed mere metres away from the woman’s three-month-old baby whom he placed in the middle of the road, before dragging her off into the canefield at Fort George Road, Moruga.

Yesterday, judge Andre Mon Desir, in passing  sentence in the San Fernando High Court, lamented the savagery that Silverton inflicted on the woman. Describing the rape “a senseless and brutal act,” Mon Desir said: “Incidents of violence against women and children are far too prevalent in T&T.” He said Silverton abused the victim’s trust in him as she allowed him to walk her home safely.

The judge noted that the victim was vulnerable and mentally subnormal because she suffered from bouts of epilepsy. As he imposed the jail sentence on Silverton, Mon Desir said the court had a duty to register its disappointment with the high incidence of violence. Silverton will begin serving the sentence from the date of his conviction on July 9 when the jury found him guilty.

State prosecutor Sabrina Dougdeen’s case was that on December 25, 2000, Silverton offered to walk the woman to her relative’s home at Moruga. On reaching Fort George Road, Silverton took the teenager’s baby and placed him in the middle of the road. He then dragged the woman into an open canefield and sexually assaulted her.

Silverton cuffed the teenager repeatedly  injuring her lip and nose. The victim was rescued by residents who picked up her baby and took them to the Moruga Police Station. Attorney Ainsley Lucky, who represented Silverton, said his client worked as a construction worker at the time of the incident. ASP Gregory Renwick laid the charge.