The lawyer representing rape-accused Parliamentarian Neil Rowe has called for whoever is responsible for leaking a police report purportedly given by his client’s accuser to be held accountable.
Magistrate Deidre McKenna, before whom the St Michael North West MP appeared in the Oistins Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning, also urged the Commissioner of Police to deal with the matter.
Roger Forde K.C., who is representing 43-year-old Rowe along with attorney-at-law Safiya Moore, raised the issue of confidentiality inside the court and again with the media outside.
He expressed to the Magistrate his concern that the circulation of the police report on social media could deter victims of crimes from coming forward in the future.
“I could not leave here without making this point…. On social media, what we have is a report that was made to the Oistins Station. I think the report is what was told to the police and things like that. Ma’am, that is a bad signal. If anything happens to ladies they will be scared to come to the police . . . and this has to stop. I am very concerned . . . . The major point is the women of this country must be scared of the police,” the senior lawyer said even as he speculated that the leak may have been the doing of someone else as “I don’t think the police would be so irresponsible”.
In response, Magistrate McKenna said the Commissioner of Police would “take note of this and do what he has to do”.
“ . . . . But it needs to stop,” she declared.
Outside the courthouse, Forde also addressed reporters on the matter as he expressed concern about the manner in which his client’s case was investigated.
“A report was made to the police, I believe, on September 24 and a few days prior to a particular event . . . there was much circulation . . . of statements made by the complainant. Apparently, they were copied from the police diary and placed on the Internet. We all have seen them.
“I am very concerned that ladies now will have little or no confidence in the police force; that every report you make to the police it will be on social media. Those who are responsible should be brought to justice. It’s a very bad thing,” the King’s Counsel said.
Earlier, his client, sitting in the back of a police vehicle with head bowed and body hunched, had arrived at the Oistins Police Station accompanied by three officers.
Moments later, with a blue and white scarf covering his face, the outgoing Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly was escorted to the court in the same compound.
“I here with you old man and I am staying with you,” a supporter wearing a Barbados Labour Party (BLP) shirt shouted from the sidelines where a few onlookers stood.
“He should take off this thing off he face, don’t hide his face,” another onlooker said as Rowe, wearing a white, long-sleeve shirt jack and blue slacks, was led into the courtroom where his family and the BLP’s Chief Executive Officer Senator Patricia ‘Pat’ Parris were waiting.
Around 9:41 a.m., about 11 minutes after Rowe arrived at the precincts, Magistrate McKenna read the indictable charge to the stoic looking accused who wore a light blue face mask.
It is alleged that he had sexual intercourse with a woman on September 18, without her consent or was reckless as to whether she consented.
Rowe was not required to plead to the charge as it can only be adjudicated before the High Court.
Acting Inspector Peter Barrow did not object to bail but asked for conditions to be imposed.
Bail was set in the sum of $10 000 which Rowe secured with one surety. His next court appearance is on January 30, 2023. In the meantime he has been warned to stay away from the virtual complainant by all means necessary.
Five minutes after entering the court and posting bail, Rowe exited, this time with his face unobscured and accompanied by Parris and his family, before he was quickly driven away.
(fernellawedderburn@barbadostoday.bb)
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