Bahamas man jailed for raping roommates girlfriend on his birthday

A Bahamas man who was found guilty of raping his roommate's girlfriend has been sentenced to seventeen years in prison.

Thirty two year old Danis Cezalien was sentenced by Justice Renae McKay for the attack, which happened on November 25 2023 in a home in northeastern New Providence.

The court was told that Cezalien, the woman and her boyfriend had gone out for drinks to celebrate the boyfriend's birthday. During the outing the boyfriend was arrested by police for unpaid traffic tickets.

The woman and Cezalien returned home. She told the court she had several drinks and went to sleep. She said she later woke up feeling pressure on her chest and at first thought it was her boyfriend. She said she then remembered he had been locked up and realised the attacker was Cezalien. She said he put his hands over her mouth and raped her.

Cezalien did not deny the sexual encounter but claimed it was consensual. He held his head in his hands as the judge handed down the sentence.

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