Cop guilty of rape, sexual assault of Freeport girl, 17

A POLICE CONSTABLE was found guilty yesterday evening by a jury in the San Fernando High Court of the rape and sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl.

PC Visham Ragoo, 39, will be sentenced by Justice Carla Brown-Antoine on September 18.

He had been on trial before the judge and a nine-member jury since May 21 for grievous sexual assault on the girl on February 4, 2008; common assault on February 4; rape on June 12; grievous sexual assault on June 12; assault occasioning actual bodily harm on or about June 12; and false imprisonment on June 12, 2008. All the offences were committed against the girl in Freeport.

Ragoo was charged on June 15, 2008, after the victim reported the offences.

The State led evidence that Ragoo had had a relationship with her since she was 15.

State attorneys Veonna Neale-Monroe and Collin Elbourne presented an audio recording from the victim's cell phone, and she testified in the witness box about the incidents. The State also called nine other witnesses.

Ragoo did not testify in his defence, but called six witnesses, among them PCs Ramoutar and Bissoon.

On Wednesday, Brown-Antoine concluded her summation, after which the jury retired at about 3.20 pm. At about 6.35 pm they returned guilty verdicts on all counts except grievous sexual assault on June 12, 2008.

Attorney Selwyn Ramlal defended Ragoo. The charges were laid by Insp Shaun Craig.

The judge ordered Ragoo taken into police custody.