MARIGOT--Five suspects accused of raping a 19-year old in French Quarter last week can face a maximum of 20 years each in prison under French law because it was a group rape, and not carried out by one individual, Prosecutor Jacques Louvier said Thursday. "But it is up to the judge's discretion, and in the case of minors he can reduce the sentences by half if he sees fit," Louvier explained.
He confirmed that the Gendarmes arrested five suspects (W.K.F; B.J.; A.R.; D.C. and C.G.) aged 14 to 19 years Wednesday morning and they are due to be transferred to Guadeloupe for trial.
The victim was traumatised by the incident and treated in hospital. She and her attackers all knew each other. Apparently the victim had tried to get back some dance tickets that the suspects allegedly took from her (younger) 15-year-old sister.
According to Louvier, three suspects raped the girl while two others looked on. The incident took place last week Thursday in a house near a garage in La Saline but the victim allegedly delayed reporting the rape so as not to worry her mother who was travelling to Guadeloupe for a medical emergency.
The mother only became aware of her daughter's rape after one of her friends had noticed an unusual message on the victim's Blackberry Messenger saying she wanted "to go to sleep and never wake up again," and reported her concern to the mother.
The mother who is back in St. Martin told The Daily Herald Thursday morning that she was taking her daughter to a psychologist and gynaecologist for evaluation.
"My daughter has been very traumatised and saddened by her ordeal and I'm asking for justice. Justice has to be done and I'm not going to give up! What makes it so bad is that they were all friends and came to my house often," she said.
"I want to warn parents what can happen to their children and to tell victims not to be afraid to talk about it."
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