A man found guilty of sexually assaulting his stepdaughter, who has special needs, in 2018 has been sentenced to serve 10 years of his 12-year prison term before he can be eligible for parole. At the time of the incident, the victim was 17 years old and had intellectual disabilities.
During the sentencing, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe highlighted the severe impact of rape, describing it as one of the most humiliating and distressing crimes, particularly when it involves a young person in their own home. He characterized this type of offense as a grave crime and emphasized that the sentence serves as a deterrent against such acts, addressing their serious nature and prevalence.
Justice Rajasinghe noted the court’s responsibility to discourage similar offenses and protect the community from potential offenders. He stated that imposing a lengthy prison sentence is essential to reflect the seriousness of the crime and society’s condemnation of such behavior.
Furthermore, he mentioned that there was no evidence presented to demonstrate any positive contributions the offender had made to society or his general reputation. Consequently, he did not qualify for any leniency due to his past character.