The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN yesterday admitted to having unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage girl who he had been talking to for some time.

Dominique Saunders, 28, is now facing between seven years and life imprisonment when he returns before Justice Gregory Hilton on Thursday for sentencing concerning his sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl on November 19 and 20, 2013.

A person under the age of 16, according to the law, cannot give consent for sexual intercourse.

At a formal arraignment in Supreme Court in May 2014, Saunders pleaded not guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse.

However, in yesterday’s proceedings, he pleaded guilty to the charges and remains on bail until sentencing.

Prosecutor Aaron Johnson gave the judge a summation of the Crown’s case against Saunders who, when asked by the judge if he agreed with them, accepted the facts read as the truth.

On the evening of November 19, 2013, Saunders invited the girl to his residence and then his bedroom where she sat on his bed and he on a chair opposite her, the court heard.

She initially did not respond to his command to move closer to him but when she did, he hugged her and started touching her. The girl told him she wanted to leave and began walking towards the door, but was pulled to the bed where he started kissing her and removing her underwear, the court heard.

It was at this moment that he had sex with her despite her screams and the pain from the ordeal. When he was finished, the girl went to the restroom to urinate where she saw blood.

Saunders then led the girl back to his bedroom and suggested she sleep over because it was already dark outside.

Sometime during the night, however, he awoke the girl and had sex with her again, the court heard.

On the morning of November 20, 2013, the girl awoke and told Saunders that she was leaving.

However, she met a police officer at the front door, the prosecutor said.

The girl was asked for her name and age, which she gave to the policeman. The officer asked Saunders the same regarding the girl and he replied that she was 16.

The girl, however, accused him of lying.

Saunders was cautioned and arrested and when interviewed in police custody, he admitted to having sex with the girl.

“You accept those facts,” Justice Hilton asked the 28-year-old.

“Yes, your honour,” Saunders replied.

The judge said he would deal with sentencing on May 14 where the Crown and Saunders will give submissions on the issue.