By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
BAIL was granted yesterday to two 18-year-old youth who were charged with raping a 15-year-old American tourist early Monday morning.
Acting Chief Magistrate Joyanne Ferguson-Pratt set bail at $10,000 each for Dino Bethel, of Pride Estates, and Parron Knowles, of Elizabeth Estates. They have to report to a police station twice a week and have two suretors post their bond.
The magistrate granted bail to the accused youth because they had no previous convictions, and the police prosecutor did not object to bail. Also the complainant had already left the Bahamas.
Bethel and Knowles face a charge of rape allegedly committed on August 5 at Paradise Island where it is claimed they had sex with a 15-year-old girl, an American, without her consent.
The accused were not required to enter a plea to the charge and were informed that their case would be fast-tracked to the Supreme Court for trial on November 26 by a Voluntary Bill of Indictment.
Lawyer Roger Gomez II claimed that his client (Knowles) was not informed by police that it was his legal right not to have his blood taken from him, which he claims police did while he was in custody.
The magistrate said she would make a note of this.
The lawyer also requested that police hand over a copy of the surveillance footage from Comfort Suites and Anthony’s Bar & Grill between 12:30am and 1am.
The magistrate said the lawyer was being “quite presumptuous” that the police had the footage. Mr Gomez II replied that police informed him that footage was being acquired.
Both accused were placed in a holding cell at Nassau Street Court Complex until their bail was posted.
Bethel retained Glendon Rolle to defend him.
Comments
jackflash 11 years, 4 months ago
Wow,
FAST TRACKED to November 26th!!!
And the defense is looking to get them off on a technicality...
concernedcitizen 11 years, 4 months ago
fast tracked in hope she doesn,t return
jackflash 11 years, 4 months ago
Exactly, Our court system will constantly delay and delay just like the did with John Trvolta
B_I_D___ 11 years, 4 months ago
Quite simple...get a court order for another blood sample...you DNA does not change from blood sample to blood sample...
The_Oracle 11 years, 4 months ago
And pray no online vendetta is commenced by the young lady towards the Bahamas. Enough of those as it is.
john33xyz 11 years, 4 months ago
The Magistrate did not want to order that the defense be given (from the police) a copy of the footage - because she said it was only an assumption that the footage existed?????????
Well, she could order that any footage the police have or will soon have be given to defense not later than Sept 30th (for example) so that they have time to examine it - and if no footage is received (with proof of receipt) by defense by that date then NO FOOTAGE will be allowed to be presented in court by the prosecution.
Simple. Prosecutors would be ordered therefore to put up or shut up. But I guess that's too much to ask for.
Katerina 10 years, 1 month ago
Sometimes, in some cases, I think that the bail is not a good option. They have to be more drastic in order to make other people think more about the consequences. http://rupturalia.blogspot.com/">Thanks
Dorian 10 years, 1 month ago
What!! In my opinion this is so unacceptable! Yes, the bail is good when they don't have proves but I agree that they have to be more drastic and sever in order to attract attention about the consequences.
http://suplimenteimportanteomega3.tumbl…">Dorian. M
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