🔒 DJ's rape conviction upheld by Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Local DJ Renato Rolando Harris, 41, has failed in his attempt to overturn his 2022 conviction for rape. The Cayman Islands Court of Appeal found "no proper ground to disturb the finding of fact made by the trial judge" in this case. The court found Harris guilty of raping the complainant at his home while she was incapacitated on the first occasion and while she tried to escape on the second. The trial judge found the woman to be a credible, honest witness. Harris is currently serving a 16-year prison term after being convicted of two counts of rape at his George Town apartment in 2018. 🏠

The first incident occurred when the woman was intoxicated after Harris reportedly supplied her with alcohol to the point of nausea. Harris was supposed to drive the woman home, but instead took her to his house. She testified that she had no memory of going up to his bedroom and only realized she had been raped when she woke up the next morning. The second rape occurred just after she awoke and tried to leave the bed. Harris forced himself on her and raped her again despite her resistance. Harris claimed that the woman was not drunk and had consented to intercourse both times. However, the trial judge accepted the complainant’s account that she had not consented or appeared to consent at any time. The appeal court rejected Harris's argument and three other points regarding the woman’s subsequent pregnancy, the failure of the crown to investigate other witnesses, and the trial delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The appeal judges concluded that none of these arguments had merit. 🚫