By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A GRAND Bahama man convicted of five counts of incest continues to maintain his innocence, although a probation officer believes he is capable of rehabilitation, the Supreme Court heard during a sentence hearing on Thursday.

His lawyer, Brian Hanna, said his client strongly denies the crime for which he was convicted earlier this year and intends to appeal the conviction.

“He is adamant that these events were perpetrated by the mother of the complainant,” Mr Hanna said. “He truly has nothing to do with this event. He maintains his innocence and has indicated to me that he intends to appeal. I will file the appeal after sentencing.”

On March 18, a jury unanimously found the father guilty on five counts of incest involving his daughter. The offences occurred between 2015 and 2019, beginning when the girl was just ten years old.

The now 19-year-old virtual complainant testified that she initially kept the abuse a secret out of fear. However, by age 15, it became too much to bear and she began experiencing nightmares. In March 2021, she told her mother what happened to her. 

The incidents happened in Abaco when her father came to visit, and in Freeport when she and her siblings went to stay with him for the summer. The offences allegedly occurred between September 1 and September 30, 2015, in Murphy Town, Abaco, when the victim was ten. Between February 1 and February 29, 2016, when she was ten; between December 1 and December 31, 2016, when she was 11; between June 1 and June 30, 2018, when she was 12; and between July 1 and July 31, 2019, when she was 14.

At the sentence hearing, Justice Petra Hanna-Adderley asked probation officer Laish Boyd Jr whether he would consider the father capable of rehabilitation.

Mr Boyd, who is employed at the Department of Rehabilitative Welfare Services, said yes, he did think that the convict could be rehabilitated.  

The probation officer submitted two probation reports on behalf of the convict. An initial report that was prepared on May 26 and a supplementary report completed on June 25 were accepted and marked as exhibits. 

Although the reports were not read in court, defence counsel Brian Hanna was allowed to read the reports with his client. He said they had no questions regarding the probation reports, adding that his client maintains his innocence.  

Mr Hanna said his client is concerned about what has transpired and the welfare of his children.

“He indicated that he loves his children and he cares for them financially as well as emotionally,” the lawyer said.

“He is very confused that this has would have actually happened and come to this, and he is at a loss as to what would have transpired, and he is still trying to come to terms with it.”