TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Children’s Court found a youth guilty of raping a toddler in broad daylight and convicted him for the offence committed three-year ago, within the jurisdiction of Colva police. The daily wager, identified as Santan Fernandes, raped the two-year-old on finding her alone in the house, while her mother had gone out to pick her older sibling from a nursery school, in January 2012.
Fernandes, who was aged 25 years at the time of committing the offence, was known to the victim and her family as he lived in the vicinity of their residence. Based on a comprehensive proceedings, including testimony of the witnesses, evidence collection and confessional statement; the court found him guilty for offences under sections 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and section 8 (2) of the Goa Children’s Act.
The court delivered a conviction order in another case involving a 55-year-old woman, who was booked for allegedly assaulting an underage girl with a cricket stump, in May 2010. As per the case details, Marcela-resident Vinanti Gaude, attacked the 14-year-old with the club in a fit of rage, as her son and the victim would often indulge in fights. The victim, on being severely wounded has undergone surgery.
The court has found her guilty on charges under sections 326, read with section 34 of IPC and section 8(2) of GCA. Point of sentence in both the cases will be pronounced soon.
