Paphos, Cyprus. The court of appeal has upheld a 14-year jail sentence imposed by the Paphos criminal court on a stepfather convicted of multiple sexual offences against his underage stepdaughter. The appellate court rejected the appeal on 18 counts, citing no grounds for intervention.
Judgement and appeal decision
In its judgement dated February 12 and made public on Thursday, the court of appeal dismissed the appeal on 18 counts of sexual offences, stating there were no grounds to intervene.
Offences and original sentencing
The Paphos district court sentenced the man on September 27, 2022, for offences including rape, sexual abuse due to a breach of trust, and domestic violence. The offences occurred between 2018 and May 2019, when the girl was 13.
Bias allegations dismissed
The court of appeal said determining sexual abuse cases is the responsibility of the trial court and rejected allegations of bias. It found no evidence of unfair treatment or a violation of the right to an impartial panel.
Sentence upheld
The appellate court confirmed the 14-year sentence, citing the severity of the offences, the breach of trust, and the victim’s age as aggravating factors. It rejected both appeals and confirmed the decision of the Paphos criminal court.
What do you think should be considered most important in sentencing decisions involving a breach of trust and an underage victim?
