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by pltm
(PLTM) - The police constable who was charged in connection with molesting an 8 year-old girl, pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault for the second time.
The accused, who first pleaded not guilty in September 2015 before Magistrate Ayanna Dabreo-Baptiste, offered the same plea on September 13th 2016, now that the matter has been transferred to Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards.
Magistrate Richards also approved the crown's request to have the matter heard in camera, a request which was originally denied by Magistrate Dabreo-Baptiste when suggested by the accused lawyer, Mrs. Valerie Stephens-Gordon.
With the approval of the crown's request, local reporters were asked to leave the court as the decision prohibits media professionals and others persons who are not related to the matter to sit through the proceedings.
In response to Mrs. Stephens-Gordan’s in camera request last year, Magistrate Dabreo-Baptiste said the matter, being one of such a serious nature, there was no need for the public to be barred from the case. At that time, the Magistrate also ordered that the accused name be withheld from being published in the local media.
The officer is currently out on $70,000 bail, sign surety.
As previously reported by BVI Platinum News, the constable who is attached to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) is a BVIslander, who resides on Virgin Gorda. He was officially charged on September 21, 2015. The officer was also sent on compulsory leave.
The matter is ongoing.
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