Rasbert Turner, Staff Reporter

St. Catherine

A man and a woman who are allegedly involved in the rape and injury of an 18-year-old woman were remanded when they appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on charges of rape and wounding with intent.

They are 21-year-old Latrina Sutherland and 26-year-old Allen Johnson, both of Spanish Town, St. Catherine.

Constable Nadine Smith of the Spanish Town Police Station told RM Lorna Errar Gayle that on September 13, the com-plainant went for a walk in a community where there is a canal.

It is reported that about 5:30 p.m., she saw both accused. The court heard that the complainant said she was not feeling well. However, the accused persons started a conversation with her, after which she decided to leave. Johnson allegedly held on to her, dragged her into nearby bushes, raped her, then slashed her throat with a knife. He also used a piece of board to inflict a wound to the victim's head and left her to die. A subsequent report led to the arrest.

The court further learnt from the investigating officer that after the incident, Sutherland alleg-edly asked Johnson "Yuh sure seh she dead?" The officer told the court that she recorded this from Sutherland.

Having heard the sordid details, RM Gayle described the act as gruesome, adding that the scar would remain with the complainant for the rest of her life.

Defence attorney Larry Bartholomew did not make an application for bail as he told the court that he would read the file for the next mentioned date, November 11.