News
Not Guilty in child sex assault; Media blocked from court by DPP Office
Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Reporter
#TurksandCaicos, December 29, 2023 – In April 2020, a child came forward and reported that she was SEXUALLY assaulted by an adult male. At the time, the minor was under 12 years old.
Eventually, that report led to a trial which was held in the Grand Turk Supreme Court before his Lordship, The Hon. Mr. Justice Davidson Kevin Baptiste alone.
We learned that the accused, who is a Haitian citizen, elected to have a judge only trial as he did not believe he would be viewed fairly by a jury. He conveyed as much to his attorney, senior defense counsel, Mr. Finbar Grant and the judge only trial was granted.
The case ran for some three weeks with the little girl on the witness stand for days under cross-examination by Mr.
Magnetic Media did travel to Grand Turk and attempted to enter the court on two days back to back but was told by public prosecutor Ms. Enjaleek Dickerson that the little girl is still being cross-examined and media was not permitted into the courtroom as the child was still testifying.
The accused FENEL CHARITABLE saw his three week trial conclude on November 29th; however Justice Baptiste delivered his verdict on December 6th; it was NOT GUILTY for the man accused of sexual assault.
The now acquitted man, who had been in prison on remand for years, was handed over to Immigration authorities for repatriation as he was staying in the islands without legal status.
Our media house took exception to our inability to give thorough coverage of this court proceeding. We were unable to report how this case fell apart for the Royal TCI Police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as media was barred from attending the trial in person.
In speaking to the attorney for the accused, Mr. Grant he confirmed that no application was made to the Court to stop the press or public from listening in.
It is the intention of this reporter, to take the matter up with the judge. We believe the public must know, hear, and understand what goes on within the court in any case in order to bring informative and balanced reports, especially when they are related to the welfare and safety of children.