A 23-year-old confessed serial rapist, who was sentenced to 62 years’ imprisonment for raping two girls and a woman, has moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge his sentence.
Leon Jordan, of Front Street, Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara (WCD), had confessed to the heinous acts committed in the years 2012, 2013, and 2016.
The Sexual Offences Court in Demerara had accepted guilty pleas from Jordan after he raped the two girls, aged seven and 14, and a 24-year-old woman at knifepoint.
There was no participation of a jury in Jordan’s trial, but he is arguing that he was given an unfair trial.
Further, he is claiming that, given his guilty pleas, Justice Brassington Reynolds did not live up to the plea bargain, imposing, as a result, a severe sentence on him.
One charge detailed that on February 2, 2012, in the county of Demerara, Jordan engaged in sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16. Another stated that on January 13, 2013, in the county of Demerara, Jordan engaged in sexual penetration of a child aged 14 years.
The final charge detailed that on October 25, 2016, he engaged in sexual penetration of a 24-year-old woman against her will.
State Counsels Seeta Bishundial and Abigail Gibbs presented the prosecution’s case, while Defence Attorney Maxwell McKay represented Jordan.
In relation to the first charge, the Court heard that at about 14:30h on February 2, 2012, the seven-year-old victim was awaiting her older brother after school to travel home when the accused, who is known to her, rode up on a bicycle and offered to take her home.
The prosecution’s case contended that after the victim expressed some reluctance, the accused grabbed and placed her on his bicycle and threatened to stab her if she screamed. Jordan then took the victim to the seawall and committed the act.
In the second instance, the prosecution’s case states that the 14-year-old victim was on her way home when Jordan approached her, and being armed with an ice picker, he demanded she jump on his bicycle. Jordan then took the victim to a deserted bushy area and performed the act.
Facts in the last charge detailed that the mother of five was on her way to work when the convict rode up and informed her that something was wrong at her home.
Responding to the information, the victim made her way back home, only to be later attacked and dragged into a clump of bushes by Jordan.
The victim put up a fight, but was overpowered by her rapist, who bit off her eyelid.
She, however, managed to free herself and escape. She was taken to the hospital to seek medical attention and undergo surgery to restore her eyesight.
Each of the victims’ impact statements disclosed the trauma and nightmares they face whenever they recall the horrific incident.
One of the victims stated, “I screamed that day for help, and no one came to my help…. I told him to stop, and he wouldn’t stop…. I am full of emotions.”
Justice Reynolds, in handing down the sentences, stated that there are no mitigating factors for Jordan, and as such, sentenced him to 12, 15, and 35 years respectively on the three charges.
Justice Reynolds further ordered that the sentence will run consecutively, and that Jordan becomes eligible for parole after serving 30 years.
Jordan had previously been charged for rape, kidnapping, and robbery, but was freed of the charges. Justice Reynolds also ordered that Jordan undergo psychiatric evaluation during his time in incarceration.
