By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A TEENAGER was charged in Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon in connection with the robbery and rape of a pastor’s wife.

Thorne Cooper, 18, of East Street was flanked by police officers as they brought him before Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez to face charges of robbery and rape.

The crimes are alleged to have been committed by the accused on Saturday, June 15, with the victim being a 51-year-old woman who was cleaning the church in which she held a prominent position. She was robbed and sexually assaulted by a man she did not know.

Cooper was not required to enter a plea to either charge because they are both indictable offences. He can expect to be served with a Voluntary Bill of Indictment on September 2.

“The matter,” Chief Magistrate Gomez said, “will go straight to the Supreme Court which should speed up the trial process a bit.”

“On a charge of rape, you are not eligible for bail in Magistrate’s Court. If you want bail, you’ll have to apply to the Supreme Court,” the chief magistrate said.

Cooper was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison until completion of his trial.

He was not represented by counsel at yesterday’s arraignment.