He was accused of a hideous crime - viciously raping a ten year old girl and then choking her until she was unconscious. But 42 year old Guatemalan Rene Chavez Ramos says he was innocent. In fact he claims he wasn’t even in the country at the time of the rape. That was his story but this afternoon a jury voted 8 to 1 to convict Ramos of carnal knowledge. He faces a minimum of 12 years in jail.
It occurred in August of 2006 at the girl’s home in Cayo. Ramos knocked on the door and asked for water. The 10 year old gave it to him but that’s when he made his first advance. She resisted and ran and he pursued. She locked the kitchen door and he kicked it open. He then choked her and sexually assaulted her. Her family found her in a semi-conscious state.
The girl who is now twelve testified. She had previously identified him in an ID parade. Prosecutor Douglas Carr called 8 witnesses. Ramos was undefended but he did call his former boss to the stand.
After the verdict – Ramos was visibly annoyed and told Justice Herbert Lord that he doesn’t understand the verdict and that he is innocent. Justice Lord will sentence Ramos next Friday.
