By Alric Lindsay
Orlando Roy Simpson appeared in the Grand Court via videolink from Northward Prison today, August 1, 2025, to be sentenced for rape, threats to kill and assault causing bodily harm after trial. After briefly summarising the sentencing submissions from Crown Counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Defence Counsel Crister Brady, the Acting Justice Palmer sentenced Simpson to 13 years in prison for rape, 9 months for assault causing bodily harm and 3 years for threats to kill. All sentences will run concurrently, i.e., simultaneously.
Breakdown of sentences
For the rape sentence, the Acting Justice Palmer made his calculations as follows:
| Description | Sentence |
| Starting point | 15 years |
| Plus aggravating factors | 5 years |
| Sub-total | 20 years |
| Less mitigating factors (no previous convictions, character and work ethic, strong prospects for rehabilitation, low criminogenic risks, history of physical abuse he experienced as a child in Jamaica, etc.) | (7 years) |
| Total | 13 years |
For threats to kill, the Acting Justice Palmer considered the range of sentencing range of 1 to 4 years’ imprisonment, deciding on a total sentence of 3 years.
Regarding assault causing bodily harm, the Acting Justice Palmer considered a starting point of a community order, with a possible sentencing range of a fine to 12 months’ custody. He decided on 9 months sentence.
Concerning the foregoing, the Acting Justice Palmer said that Simpson’s time spent in custody from March 28, 2025, to date, time spent on an electronic monitor from September 25, 2024, to March 28, 2025, and time spent on curfew, will be deducted from the total sentence given today.
Ancillary Orders
Following the delivery of the sentencing judgment, the Acting Justice Palmer issued ancillary orders that Simpson must not make contact directly or indirectly with the victim and must not go within 100 feet of the victim.
In addition, Crown Counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions requested leave to apply for a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Reporting Restrictions
Due to the nature of the case, the Acting Justice Palmer ordered that no publication can be made that will identify the victim directly or indirectly.
Note to readers
For the background of this case, please see the link below:
