Bus driver faces time for sex offence

A 48-year old bus driver who is operating on a route north of Roseau is now on remand at the Stock Farm State Prisons awaiting sentencing for the offence of unlawful sexual intercourse at the Roseau High Court on Thursday March 20, 2014.

A jury of four men and five women took less than two hours, during which they had lunch, to reach the unanimous verdict after a summation of the case for 48 minutes by trial judge Justice Birnie Stephenson on Friday February 7, 2014.

State Attorney Arthlyn Nesty along with State Attorney Sherma Dalrymple prosecuted the case for the state with Counsel Ronald Charles and Darius Jones conducting the defence.

The five witnesses of the State included the virtual complainant who was between 11 and 12 years old when the accused, Anselm Drigo, her neighbour, had sex with her on his bed at his home between January 1, 2011 and February 20, 2012.

The secondary school student told the court that her mother was at work sometime in 2011 (and she began crying) and was home with a younger sister when she heard Drigo, described as a good neighbour by the girl's mother, calling her for food. He asked her to come into his room and she said no. He eventually had sex with the girl.

He told her not to cry. When he was through she went home. She told the court it was not the first time he had sex with her. She did not tell her mother, but told somebody what happened.

It was in February of 2012 that she spoke to a welfare officer at her school. The officer asked her questions about the accused and herself.

Drigo, in his defence from the prisoners' box, said: In 2012 the police came and arrest me and tell me I sex a young girl. I never sex a young girl. I never sex her. The police say they are going to beat me, going to kick me unless I sign my name. I will go free. I frighten. I sign my name.

Justice Stephenson following the jury's verdict, asked for written submissions with authorities from counsel to be filed on or before February 28, 2014; that the accused be examined by a psychiatrist and the report be submitted on or before February 28, 2014; sentencing hearing was set for March 20, 2014.