By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A NASSAU attorney has called for more public “awareness” of the various incidences of domestic violence in the country. 

Referring specifically to the case of Dwight Bethel, who was convicted last year for unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage girl, attorney Lisa Fox said more needed to be done to publicly highlight “these vexing issues which affect all, inclusive of men, women and children”.

“I believe that it is imperative that awareness on these issues be heightened, and it is time for a glaring light to be shown, therefore lending support for victims and survivors and bringing to the attention of those who may not be aware that these problems are live and real,” Ms Fox said.

Bethel, 41, was convicted in October of molesting an underaged girl between 2008 and 2013, who he then compelled to get an abortion after discovering she was pregnant.

At the time of his conviction, Bethel was allegedly in breach of a protection order granted by Magistrate Ellen Serville on March 6, 2013. The order was allegedly effected on October 17, 2013, and served to Bethel on the same day.

The complainant’s mother had reportedly been granted a final protection order that prohibited Bethel from having any contact with her children, including contact by cell phone or text message.

A penal notice was reportedly attached to the order indicating that failure to comply with the order would result in committal to Her Majesty’s Prison, now the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Last month, Bethel appeared before Justice Vera Watkins for what was supposed to be his sentencing in the matter.

However, Bethel’s lawyer Stanley Rolle was absent from the proceedings, as he had been at the initial sentencing hearing in early December when the court had also been informed that the requested probation report was incomplete. The matter was adjourned as a result.

On the day of the adjournment, Justice Watkins informed Bethel that her staff had received a note from Mr  Rolle, seeking an adjournment as the proceedings had conflicted with a “prior engagement with his parents”.

The judge said aside from giving a list of available dates to proceed with the matter, Mr Rolle’s note had given no further explanation about the issue.

When Justice Watkins asked him what he would like to do with the matter, Bethel replied: “I would like to get this over with as soon as possible. All of this back and forth is playing with my emotions.” He added: “... I feel I was poorly represented.”

“You want me to adjourn this matter or are you prepared to proceed?” Justice Watkins then asked.

“I’ll take the adjournment,” Bethel replied.

In view of the adjournment, however, Ms Fox told The Tribune that from her perspective, the “flagrant” breach of the order was “not considered in the indictment nor is it being considered in the sentencing of the defendant”.

“I believe that this case is one which should incorporate a sentence term that considers the breach of the order as a matter of principle and to send a strong message to the community and more specifically to perpetrators of sexual and domestic violence,” she said.

“The fact that the breach of the order was not considered in the proceedings suggests that the issue of domestic violence is not being taken seriously enough, therefore putting victims and survivors of domestic violence at risk of reoffenders.

“The survivor, although her perpetrator was brought to justice, will continue to live with the scars of the abuse which may possibly remain with her throughout her lifetime.”

Bethel denied the accusations when interviewed in police custody and during his testimony at trial.

However, the jury believed the complainant’s testimony that Bethel began molesting her in 2008 when she was 11. Now a teenager, she said she never told her mother what was happening because she was afraid.

The teenager said she told Bethel she was carrying his child in June 2013 and he took her to a clinic four months later to terminate the pregnancy. However, the operation was halted by her mother’s calls inquiring of her whereabouts. As a result, she had to pass the foetus at home and wrapped it in a plastic bag as Bethel directed her to before he later came to collect it.

The alleged abuse was revealed and reported to police later that day when the girl’s mother took her to the Princess Margaret Hospital, where she was diagnosed and treated for an incomplete septic abortion.