RANDY BALLIRAM was, on Tuesday, sentenced for the 2007 rape and sexual assault of an eight-year-old girl and was ordered to serve the next nine and a half years in prison.

The victim was killed in 2013 in an incident unrelated to the case. Her sworn testimony before the magistrates’ court was read to the jury, which last month found Balliram guilty of sexual intercourse with a minor, under the age of 14, and grievous sexual assault.

During the trial before the Princes Town court, the jury heard that during the August vacation in 2007, the child was dropped off at the home of a woman known to her. She was helping her cook when she was sent to a bedroom for a blender. While there Balliram, who was then 22 years old, entered the room through another door. The girl told the court he came behind her and placed his right hand into her pants and underwear and sexually assaulted her.