By Zaya Williams

Leon Riley, who was retried and convicted for a rape and serious indecency spending 18 years in His Majesty’s Prison.

Riley’s conviction relates to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl near Pensioners Beach in 2016.

Initially arrested and charged with this offense in April 2016, Riley was found guilty by a jury of rape and serious indecency, receiving a 15-year jail sentence.

However, in November 2021, his conviction was overturned by the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal ordered a retrial, which commenced a few months ago under the guidance of a new judge, Justice Ann-Marie Smith. Riley was retried and found guilty in June.

Riley was sentenced this morning to 18 years for rape and 9 for serious indecency but the sentences will run simultaneously. The time he has already spent in prison is to be deducted.