Trial of man accused of indecent assault continues today

The trial of a 42-year-old man accused of unlawful sexual connection and indecent assault of a 15 year-old girl resumes today at the High Court of Justice. The trial began on Wednesday last week.

On Friday, the mother, father, and aunt of the victim and an investigating officer presented their testimonies against the accused man.

The witnesses testified about what the alleged victim  told them regarding the incident, and what the accused man said when confronted. They all testified that the accused had denied the accusations.

According to all three witnesses, the victim told them that on March 21, 2009  she was upstairs of a friend’s house at a birthday party for the daughter of the accused.

According to witnesses, the complainant told them that she left to bring a container of food down to her aunt’s car. On her way back to the party the accused man allegedly led her to a dark area under the house and put his hand in her pants and his finger into her vagina.

The complainant had testified on Wednesday that the defendant had asked her if she was up for a challenge, before he allegedly committing the act.  “I did not respond,” the complainant said.

“He then pushed me against the wall. Then he put his hand in my pants and his finger in my vagina. I then pulled away from him and told him to leave me alone. Then he told me if I wanted we could go somewhere else. I said no and I went back upstairs,” she testified.

On Friday, before Justice Birnie Brookes, the mother of the alleged victim said that she had found out about the incident several days later when her daughter finally told her what had allegedly occurred.

According to her, when confronted about the accusations at the complainant’s home the accused man said that he was worried about his wife’s reaction and the reaction of the victim’s father’s.

“I looked at him and I said you have abused my child and you’re looking at me and you’re asking what your wife is going to say?” the victim’s mother said.

The mother told the court that she was shocked when her daughter initially told her of the alleged incident.

Meanwhile, according to the father of the alleged victim, the investigating officer discovered a barely hidden door that his daughter had mentioned as the place where the defendant had allegedly led her. This door was hidden by a lattice, according to the investigating officer who later testified.

The complainant’s aunt told the court that the defendant had said that he wanted to drive himself over a cliff during a confrontation at the complainant’s home following the incident.

Dominica News Online will bring more details on this trial as it unfolds.

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13 Comments

  1. true that
    August 30, 2011

    And those of you still wondering why the police shot the man for touching his child i hope you got your answers now, WE NEED TO MARK THEM BASTARD. we need more fathers like the child of convent prep give them suckers a mark for life, they will never think of watching another child ever again. I did not make my child for you to finger,you out of place.

  2. Anything goes
    July 13, 2011

    I would not care if it was another teenager, he couldve been 19 is kids even though by law he is an adult, but a married man, his wife maybe wasnt giving it to him,those things happening long time but it getting out of hand,

  3. February 8, 2010

    Roasters respect young pullets,

    Male dogs respect the female dogs when they are not ready for mating.
    Why is it that men don’t respect people children ?

    Parents and children are lacking that close connection between them.
    Is either the parents roughing up the girls on boy friend …
    They don’t educate them on those matters, just scold them.

    Have you noticed on DNO, In cases how the parents only get to know
    days after to what happened to their child?
    If there was a good relationship, they are the first ones to know .

    If found guilty, let him face the full force.

  4. empress in orando
    February 8, 2010

    DNO I AGREE YOU CANNOT RELEASE THE NAMES OF THE PPL, SO TRUE.
    MY NAME IS BRETHERIN, I AM FROM d/C ORIGINALLY, AND THIS IS NOT A NEW THING IN THAT ISLAND? THE OLD MEN OF OLD TIIME DAYS LOVED THE YOUNG GIRLS, AND THE YOUNG WOMEN ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WOMAN IS IN A POORER SITUATION THAN SHE IS , WOMAN FROM TIMES BEFORE GET ALL THEIR LOVING IN THE GARDEN, ADVANTAGIOUS MEN THEY WERE, AND WE ARE IN 2010 THEY ARE STILL DOING THIS TO THE YOUNGS GIRLS, I HAVE ALWAY SPOKEN TO MY CHILDREN TO BE FREE TO TELL ME WHEN THEY ARE TOUCHED IN ANY WAY INAPPROPRIATELY. PPL MAKE MISTAKES BUT I HOPE HE ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AND TO MOVE ON.

  5. Disgusted
    February 8, 2010

    It makes me sick just reading about this case. This man is what’s wrong with the world. .. I want to see that this man pay solidly for his crime. What a shame!!!

  6. Nitara
    February 8, 2010

    My little girl’s daddy freaks out horribly if he notice a young boy lookin at her too close(so do I) and she is ten. I’m sorry for the man who has to brave his blessings one day. To moms of growing daughters, always keep a close relationship with ur lil girls where they feel it will be okay and comfortable to confide in u about things good or bad. So if someone is just makin her nervous u will get to know, and be alerted. I believe that’s the key. I noticed that the young girl said at first she was afraid of lettin her mom know. A real shame on this whole thing, and I pray every day that I won’t be in that situation

  7. February 8, 2010

    and even though he drive himself over a cliff. that’s what he need to do the old swine .

  8. dbrown
    February 8, 2010

    We need to make an example of these people, what child laws are in place for those whom are too small to defend themselves. I noticed here in dominica most men are hot for 16 year olds saying they’re ready for picking. I was offended, the man was older than me.what will happen is that the dads will be in jail because the system failed them and they sort their own justice. Time to cut some nuts, or hope the government grows some. As for this case I feel the accused tried a move on the girl and it back fired. I feel sorry for any man that messes with my girls, he will not even have time to ask the lord to forgive. Leave the lil girls for the lil boys and try someone ur own age. If u like lil girls, I feel sorry for u, ur days are numbered. I am encouraging death for the guilty

  9. Maggiedumpling
    February 8, 2010

    Observer et al:

    I join you in registering my disgust and not so subtle anger at the alleged perpetrator of this heinous crime. However, I must concur with the DNO Editor that because of LEGAL reasons the media is barred from releasing the name(s) of the accused. Since Dominica is a country where the rule of law is the order of the day, as citizens we should not advocate the mounting kangaroo courts to deal with matters necessary and worthwhile at the moment.

    Sexual crimes of any nature, be they incest, child molestation, rape etc.) Are very emotional and traumatizing and while we should never shield the alleged perpetrator(s), we should exercise a modicum of patience and let justice take its course. What you appear to be advocating is tantamount to taking the law into your own hands and is ill-advised since you will be compounding the matter and making matters worse not better. As bad as this and other crimes are let us practice putting our feet the persons shoe and, at least for a hot minute, think how we would feel if, God forbid, we were the accused or a member of our family.

    For some reason it bodes well when we can air our disgust because it shows that our society has not lost its conscience as it pertains to crimes against humanity, the least among us and the elderly. God bless you my friend and let us pray for the peace and tranquility of the Commonwealth of Dominica.

  10. Sandy
    February 8, 2010

    I am very dissappointed at this individual. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this from him. He has a wife and too, he has a daughter. Why take advantage of people’s children? Shame on you, shame on you.

  11. G
    February 8, 2010

    THIS GUY MUST BE JAILED……

  12. jesusfreak
    February 8, 2010

    i cant believe wat’s going on in this country..those perverts need to be locked up for life and out of the streets least they attack another…its a shame..let justice prevail

  13. Observer
    February 8, 2010

    I think it is time that the media in Dominica learn to report the actual names of the abusers. I would have love to know the indentity of the bastard. Make him an example, so the other sickos will learn.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: The media is barred by law from publishing the names of persons charged with sexual offenses, unless they are convicted of the crime. In this case the man is still on trial, so it would be illegal to reveal his name.

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