Jamaica teen raped, buried alive

2010-04-07 22:13

Kingston - A taxi driver has been accused of raping a 12-year-old girl and then burying her alive after he thought he had strangled her to death, authorities said on Wednesday.

Garsha Wilson faces charges including rape, abduction, attempted murder and cruelty to a child, Deputy Police Superintendent Herfa Beckford said.

Wilson abducted the girl last month at a bus station in the capital, Kingston, then took her to a house in nearby St Andrew parish where he raped her and choked her until she was unconscious, Beckford said.

Thinking she was dead, he buried her in a shallow grave and covered it with rocks, Beckford said. The girl, who reported the alleged crime, told police she regained consciousness and dug herself out.

The Associated Press generally does not identify victims of sex crimes.

Wilson was detained on March 25 but was not charged until Monday.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday. His attorney was scheduled to be in court all day on Wednesday and was not available immediately for comment, his secretary said.

Jamaican authorities say the abduction of girls has recently increased and blame taxi drivers for the majority of cases, saying they often take advantage of female passengers travelling to rural, isolated areas.

They warn women not to travel alone if possible.

- SAPA