Appeal Court Hears Bert Vasquez’s Attempted Rape Conviction Challenge Amid Media Exclusion

Bert Vasquez appeared before the Court of Appeal this morning to appeal a conviction for attempted rape. Vasquez, who was unrepresented, pleaded his own case before the panel of appeal justices. Notably, Vasquez raised an issue with the court regarding negative publicity surrounding the trial, resulting in members of the media being excluded from the hearing. The case concluded just after midday, with the court reserving judgment, and no fixed date has been set for the delivery of their decision. The panel comprised the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Minnet Hafiz-Bertram, Justice Marguerite Woodstock Riley, and Justice Peter Foster. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl Lynn Vidal, personally represented the Crown in the matter. The appeal follows Vasquez’s 2018 conviction. At the time, a jury of five women and four men found Vasquez not guilty of forcible abduction but guilty of attempted rape. The victim, who was 20 years old at the time, testified that she was walking on Freetown Road, coming from work and heading home when Vasquez drove beside her and offered her a ride. She said she accepted because she knew him, but instead of taking her to her home on Calle Del Mar Street, Vasquez drove her to a remote area in Belama Phase 4. She testified that Vasquez insisted on having sex with her against her will after she repelled his advances. Vasquez was sentenced to four years in prison for the conviction.