Leslie Miller
IN an emotional contribution to the House of Assembly yesterday, Tall Pines MP Leslie Miller named the person he said was responsible for ordering the brutal murder of his son, Mario, 11 years ago.
Mr Miller made the revelation during his contribution to a Bill that would allow for the hiring of more Supreme Court judges.
The MP fingered a business consultant by the name of Dion Bowe as the person who not only put the hit out on his son, but also approached him to offer information on how the murder of his son took place, Mr Miller said.
Mario Miller, 28, was found dead with multiple stab and chop wounds – 22 times about the body, and twice in his heart with a 16-inch blade - in bushes near the Super Value food store in Winton.
During his time as Minister in the 2002-2007 Christie administration, Mr Miller had attempted to raise the issue of his son’s murder several times in the House of Assembly.
On those occasions,
members on his side of the aisle would interrupt him and appeal to him to refrain from doing what he did yesterday, name the person he felt was responsible for his son’s death.
“A lot of my colleagues in here dislike when I talk about it, Mr Speaker, because they don’t feel the pain that I feel. They don’t feel the hurt that my family members feel because it hasn’t happened to them. It is interesting how life is,” Mr Miller said.
He then said that some senior statesmen in his party, Arthur Dion Hanna and former PLP Chairman Andrew “Dud” Maynard, both of whom recently lost sons of their own, were able to sympathize with his loss.
“Hon AD Hanna is a hero of mine. I saw him a few weeks ago at a funeral and he hugged me. He said to me, ‘Leslie I see why you raise so much hell for Mario. My son died, he wasn’t killed and (I) can appreciate (what you are going through) because it pained me so much.’
“Dud Maynard last week called me the other day out of the blue and said, ‘I understand why you raised so much hell because even though my son died of a heart attack that pain is so deep, so entrenched in the fibre of your being that you can’t help yourself and sometimes you get carried away’.“
Mr Miller then recounted a run-in with the man he claimed was responsible for ordering his son’s death.
Mr Miller said that about four days after Mario was “butchered” he was going upstairs in the British Colonial Hilton when Mr Bowe stopped him and said, “I know who killed your son.”
“I said, ‘Yeah’?”
“He said, ‘Yeah’.”
“I said, ‘Who’?”
“He said it was some guys out of Jamaica who came to the Bahamas in one boat and they went through Great Harbour Cay. That’s how they escaped. I said, ‘How you know that?’ “
“He said, ‘I know them’ .”
“I found out later, through the police …that the same person who approached me telling me who killed Mario, one of his girlfriends slept with Mario the Friday night before they butchered him that Saturday and he had told her that he was going to have my son killed. She got a job at Phil’s and I tried to put some pressure on my good friend Phil too make sure she appeared in court. She never did appear in court for the case. She left the country. I don’t know where she is today.
“The the police questioned him once. He subsequently left the island for 10 years. I am told that a case of murder is never closed until someone is brought to justice. At least I hope that is the case. That same person that told me he knew who killed my son, who I understand from the police and others that he told his girlfriend that he was going to have my son killed, is back in town now. He calls himself a business consultant. The person I am talking about is a fellow called Dion Bowe.”
The MP said that even 11 years after the incident he is still affected by the tragic and violent death of his son.
“Sometimes it’s like a trance and Mario would come to me and he would say to me, ‘Daddy you think you ga ever get justice for me?’
“Twenty-eight years-old and they took his life. Sometimes I wish (God) would take me away from here so I can be with Mario. His mother would come to me and say, ‘Listen you have these other children you have to live for too.’
“Sometimes at night I would get my shotgun out of the closet and by the time I get to the door and get into the car I would hear mamma voice say, ‘Go back inside you ga only get in trouble. You have these other children to live for.’”
“People don’t know the sadness, the bitterness, the loneliness that parents go through The system is clogged up in every respect, in all cases. Be it civil or criminal. The system is simply clogged up. To many of us justice delayed is justice denied. “
Comments
jackflash 11 years, 4 months ago
Rumor on the street was that Mario was into drugs!
Live by the sword - die by the sword.
Also, perhaps this man should not have a license for a shot gun. A few weeks ago he was shooting into the bushes at someone running away, not he states "Sometimes at night I would get my shotgun out of the closet and by the time I get to the door and get into the car I would hear mamma voice say, ‘Go back inside you ga only get in trouble."
This sounds like trouble waiting to happen.
JohnDoes 11 years, 4 months ago
Yes I found those words rather disturbing in the HOA even though he did act within his rights on the whole copper theft incident. On the other hand, this man is contemplating suicide everyday as he made it seem. He does not sound like someone who needs to be in possession of a firearm right now, perhaps a psychological evaluation is needed in that area to see if its actually 'Mudda Miller' or his natural conscience that stopped him from jumping in his car with that shotgun.
proudloudandfnm 11 years, 4 months ago
If I was Dion Bowe I'd own Mario's and his paint business by the end of the year. Wow! In the HOA! Our country is in trouble with these thugs in office man. I will vote for any party that gives us term limits and some kind of impeachment process.....
justthefactsplease 11 years, 4 months ago
The sad irony is that he can't be sued for comments made in the House ... they can lambast anyone in the House with impunity.
jackbnimble 11 years, 4 months ago
I understand his pain as a parent but to actually call the man's name in the HOA for the public to know, this is ridiculous! Mr. Miller clearly needs therapy. And how does the Speaker allow him to get away with this and yet have Dr. Minnis "named" for his accusations against the PM. A double standard... Unbelievable!!!
ThisIsOurs 11 years, 4 months ago
Exactly. He should have called a recess..he is out of his element. Don't want to beat up on him but he is.
TalRussell 11 years, 4 months ago
My advice to Pot cake's neighbors. Get your cutlass slashing swords out, cut your damn bushes down. If ever there are signs to repossess a shot gun and its license, he has to be it. If BEC Minister "Brave" is willing to send Pot cake out to collect the millions in unpaid light bills from the hotels and businesses, you'd require an armored car to bring the cash back. I ain't know about you but I'd pay-up in full, with penalties and interest.
proudloudandfnm 11 years, 4 months ago
Dion works for Baltron Bethel. PLP accusing PLP of murder. My God this is one slimy nasty dirty party! Bahamas please pay attention, these folks are dirty and are hurting our country. Time for everyone to get up and demand early elections. Get this scandal ridden government out of office.....
Samiam 11 years, 4 months ago
Why not call him out, that's the problem with the Bahamas cover up n hide for what? I also heard the son was into drugs. I believe his story, he had no problem stepping to him he should have no problem with his name exposed to the public
JohnDoe 11 years, 4 months ago
This is a man in a position of power and authority in this country. I can empathize with Mr. Miller as a parent, however, the above quotes from Mr. Miller just goes to show how much trouble we are in. I can assure you that he is not the only one in our government who wake up at night hearing voices.
proudloudandfnm 11 years, 4 months ago
So wait! A sitting MP can accuse a citizen of murder in the HOA with no evidence whatsoever and he cannot be sued?
Seriously?
ThisIsOurs 11 years, 4 months ago
Yep. It's a wonder the speaker didn't ask him to either supply proof or apologize...accusing someone of murder is a bit more serious than impugning someone's character...
sansoucireader 11 years, 4 months ago
Something is very, very wrong with this MP. Only a matter of time before he harms himself or someone else. Badly in need of a psych evaluation and follow up mental health counseling. Seems like his outward anger stems from the depression, grief and helplessness he feels from his son's death. Hope one of the many medical doctor MPs realize what's going on and encourage him to SEEK HELP (and take away that gun!)
John 11 years, 4 months ago
The rippling effects these comments will have on crime. Do you know how many Bahamians go through the same experience of knowing who killed their loved one, their son or nephew, or father or cousin or brother and they live with the desire to take matters into their own hands because they feel that the justice system has failed them? Do you know how many Bahamians have to rub shoulders on a daily basis with persons accused of killing a loved one and they have to exercise restraint because the law did not take its course? But do you really know how many persons could no longer hold back, or they did not have anyone to stop them from grabbing a shotgun, or some other weapon and going out to seek justice or vengeance for a murdered family member? The time has come for swift justice as justice delayed is justice denied. "Take the murderers and the rapists and the child molesters from among ou and these activities will cease"
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