BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – TWO men, who were members of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, were recently convicted of raping a female who was 16 years old at the time of the incident.
Acting Commissioner of Police Stafford Liburd confirmed to SKNVibes this morning (Mar. 18) that yesterday, the men, Jamal ‘JP’ Phillip and Charles ‘Babash’ Bowry, who both carried the rank of Lance Corporal, were convicted at the High Court of Justice.
He said the jury which sat on the case returned a unanimous decision having digested the evidence that was set before it.
The offence for which the men were convicted took place on February 19, 2011 at the Fort Thomas Hotel.
According to a news report which was compiled and carried by this publication just days after the incident, information suggested that sometime between 12:30 and 1:00 a.m. on the day in question, an army patrol vehicle was in the vicinity of the Shadwell Great House where the victim stood. That vehicle was reportedly brought to a standstill and the girl was ordered to enter it.
She was reportedly forced into the vehicle, taken to the Fort Thomas Hotel and raped.
A police press release issued sometime after indicated that the men were arrested on warrants in the first instance.
The Acting CoP said he understands that following the trial, the men were remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison until March 31 when they are expected to be sentenced.
