A 27-year-old man who sexually assaulted his common-law wife’s 11-year-old niece over a two-year period was last week sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment at hard labour in the Home Circuit Court.

According to evidence led by Crown Counsel Ann-Marie Nembhard, the east Kingston resident – who is also the stepfather of his victim’s two male cousins – sexually assaulted the girl on an unknown date in April 2005.

The man, whom the victim affectionately referred to as ‘Uncle’, was originally charged with two counts of carnal abuse but one count was dropped due to insufficient evidence.

The girl testified before Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop during the six-day trial that on the day in question she was home when the convict called her over to his house, which is in close proximity to hers.

When she arrived there, she continued, her abuser, who also usually helped her with homework, called her into her aunt’s room where he told her to fetch the hair oil and lubricate her vagina. She complied and was subsequently sexually assaulted.

The girl, who was 11 years old at the time, further testified that she got so programmed to the routine that every time her abuser called her over to the house she knew what was expected of her – to get the hair oil, lubricate and “pull up your skirt”.

She said in a statement to the police that the abuse started two years prior to April 2005.

The culprit was arrested on August 13, 2005. He testified in court that his victim and her family had wrongfully accused him.

The victim’s aunt testified that she did not believe that the man she knew since 1998 and who was helping to rear her two children – one a 16-year-old boy – could be guilty of such a crime.