By Alric Lindsay
Cedric Everton Ellis appeared via video link in the Grand Court on June 27, 2025, to be sentenced for the rape of a minor, who is understood to be twelve years old. His sentencing was adjourned to September 18, 2025, which would make it almost two years since the incident occurred. The reason for the adjournment is that Margeta Facey-Clarke, his attorney, will be unavailable for periods of time due to a surgery she is undergoing. Notwithstanding the circumstances, Crown Counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions expressed displeasure about the delay, as the incident involved a minor.
Background
Ellis, who is said to be a heavy equipment operator, was noted as being wanted by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service in 2024 for sexual assault incidents. Eventually, Ellis turned himself in to the RCIPS and subsequently charged with rape of a minor.
Explaining the sentencing delay via video link on June 27, 2025, Facey-Clarke stated that she will undergo medical procedures, which will push back her availability to the end of August or September, depending on her recovery. She added that her client, Ellis, is “ok with the adjournment” and “he’s aware that whatever time that he spends in custody, he will get credit for it on whatever sentence is handed down.”
Responding to Facey-Clarke, DPP Crown Counsel Brown said:
The defendant may not be bothered by the delay, but at the heart of this case is a twelve-year-old child who is the victim of rape.
We are now eighteen months down the line since this offence took place.
DPP Crown Counsel Brown added:
We are now seven months down the line since this defendant pleaded guilty to this rape and each and every occasion, I have to go back to this child to explain that there is further delay because of payment with the legal aid report [and] because of whatever else.
Quite frankly, it is not good enough.
DPP Crown Counsel Brown emphasised that, due to all the delays, the court was now at its fourteenth hearing regarding this matter.
In the circumstances, DPP Crown Counsel Brown said he wished the sentencing to proceed on June 27, 2025, rather than months later when the defence counsel is expected to recover from her medical procedures. In addition, waiting until September would mean that it would be two years since the offence took place.
After hearing from defence and prosecution counsels, Justice Richards said she would grant a final adjournment to September 18, 2025. However, if Facey-Clarke is unable to attend, then another lawyer should be arranged to deal with the matter. In the meantime, Ellis will be remanded in custody.
Note to readers
According to previous court cases, the court usually states that the ones involving sexual assault or rape of minors should be dealt with on a priority basis. However, delays occur from time to time, such as in this case, where the sentencing was delayed due to a lack of payment for a legal aid report and the personal medical challenges of an attorney.
Ultimately, the person being sentenced for rape will benefit from delays because courts usually consider how long the case was hanging over the person’s head and will deduct (from the final sentence) any time served in custody to the date of the sentence. It is also expected that further time may be deducted for previous good character and making a guilty plea. In the case of an early guilty plea, the court usually deducts one-third of the sentence.
