Warning: This article contains details of sexual offending against children.
A man who filmed himself sexually assaulting a young girl as she slept has been jailed for four years and two months after a Wellington District Court judge rejected his attempt to blame alcohol for the offending, The New Zealand Herald has reported.
Mehul Kathri Chethri, who was 26 at the time of the offences, went into the girl’s bedroom over several weeks and used the light from his cellphone to record himself assaulting her. The offending stopped only when the girl woke while he was touching her, according to Herald’s report.
Chethri fled the room and the girl told her parents, who reported the matter to police. Officers later found recordings of the assaults on his phone.
The mother of the girl spoke on her behalf, as the girl herself was young to make a victim impact statement.
She said her daughter was unaware she had been filmed but, since the incident, had refused to sleep alone or in the dark.
Crown prosecutor Rushika De Silva said aggravating features included the vulnerability of the victim, the filming of the offending, and the mild planning and premeditation involved.
Chethri had earlier accepted a sentencing indication of seven years’ imprisonment, with Judge David Laurenson, KC, indicating further discounts for guilty pleas and personal factors outlined in a pre-sentence report.
However, those personal factors became a point of contention during sentencing.
Defence lawyer Karun Lakshman urged the court to treat the sentencing reports cautiously, saying neither had been prepared with a professionally trained interpreter present. Because of this, he submitted, the court should err on the side of caution.
The pre-sentence report, which recommended imprisonment, questioned Chethri’s remorse, suggesting he had limited understanding of the harm caused.
While he said he was sorry, the report noted he had suggested the offending was accidental, saying he believed he was in the “washroom”.
An alcohol and drug report also suggested Chethri blamed substance abuse for his actions.
Judge Laurenson said he would treat comments about remorse cautiously due to Chethri’s limited English, noting he had expressed remorse to his lawyer and indicated a willingness to participate in restorative justice.
However, the judge rejected attempts to attribute the offending to alcohol, finding the conduct was clearly sexually motivated.
After applying discounts for guilty pleas, remorse, and willingness to engage in restorative justice, Judge Laurenson sentenced Kathri Chethri to four years and two months’ imprisonment on six charges, including doing an indecent act, unlawful sexual connection, making an objectionable publication, and indecent assault, Herald reported.
The judge also ordered the recordings on Chethri’s phone be destroyed. He will be placed on the sex offender register, and the court heard he is likely to be deported after serving his sentence, Herald reported.
SEXUAL HARM
Where to get help:
If it’s an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
If you’ve ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7:
* Call 0800 044 334
* Text 4334
* Email support@safetotalk.nz
* For more info or to web chat visit safetotalk.nz
Alternatively contact your local police station.
If you have been sexually assaulted, remember it’s not your fault.
ISSUE
Leave a Comment