The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE APPEALS Court has set a date for a man to challenge his 39-month jail term for having sex with an 11-year-old girl.

Alexander McPhee, who was unanimously convicted by a nine-member Supreme Court jury in December, will return to the Appeals Court on January 22 next year to argue, through his court-appointed attorney, Geofrrey Farquharson, why he thinks the 39-month jail sentence handed down by the Supreme Court is excessive.

According to testimony by the young girl, who is now 12, the abuse took place every night for a seven-month period between July 2006 and February 2007.

Law enforcement officers were notified when the matter was reported on February 21, 2007 by the girl’s mother and grandmother.

McPhee was sentenced to seven years in prison in May 2012.

However, Justice Vera Watkins, who presided over the matter, subtracted the time that McPhee has spent in custody on remand, resulting in his prison terms being reduced to a little more than three years.

On October 4, McPhee’s last appearance before the Supreme Court, he asked the Court of Appeal for assistance in getting him an attorney to prosecute his case against his sentence.

He reasoned that he did not have the resources to afford counsel to argue his appeal against the 39-month’s jail term. The request was granted.

Mr Farquharson will now represent McPhee in his substantive appeal which will be presided over by Justices Anita Allen, Stanley John and Abdulai Conteh.