By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A POLICEMAN said he can now move on with his life after the Court of Appeal dismissed the Crown’s challenge of his acquittal on two sexual assault charges.
Juan Pratt, a police sergeant and son of former Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt, said after the ruling was handed down yesterday: “I’m just glad it’s over, man.
“The papers been mashing me up for six years because of the lies people been saying about me and my family,” he said.
“People don’t understand how hard it is to be a police officer and have a lie like that put against you because people will only believe you if God himself come down and say so.”
The 43-year-old added as he left court: “I’m just glad it’s over, I can put this behind me and me and my family can move on.”
Court of Appeal judges yesterday delivered their ruling on the Crown’s appeal to challenge the South Bahamia resident’s acquittal.
The Crown’s appeal was dismissed and the acquittal upheld.
The ruling was read by Justice Stanley John, who at the conclusion, noted that conviction was not the only option open to the magistrate. Justice Abdulai Conteh agreed and added that allowing the Crown’s appeal would be second guessing the magistrate.
Justice Christopher Blackman said: “I am of the opinion that the decision of the magistrate was unreasonable and cannot be supported having regard to the evidence.”
Prior to Mr Pratt’s acquittal in February 2010, it was alleged that at some time between May 5 and May 6, 2007, Mr Pratt had sex with two girls, ages 14 and 15, at his home.
Mr Pratt denied the allegations saying he took the girls to the bowling alley and gave them $20, then went home and fell asleep.
He said the girls came into his room and into the bed.
He testified that at no point did he have sex with them or touch them in any way.
In February 2010, Magistrate Jones acquitted Mr Pratt of the charges.
Comments
lazybor 11 years ago
a life could have been ruined
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wave 11 years ago
How about the two live that are ruined when he violated those two young girls. The only and I mean the only reason why he was not convicted is because of his mother. Watch, he’s be back in the paper within a year. People who abuse children do not stop more so when they get caught and get away with it.
concernedcitizen 11 years ago
you hit the nail on the head,,,for this ego maniac to say the girls came into the bed with him ,,he paid them to come into the bed ,,him and his ma have the same taste
pablojay 11 years ago
Reading the above article i would like to know, if Justice Blackman was quoted correctly when he said "I am of the opinion that the decision of the magistrate was unreasonable and cannot be supported having regard to the evidence", because if the quote was correct , then he believes that the officer should have been convicted, but that they would not change his decision, even though it was not the correct one, considering the evidence presented.Also the other two Justices said that the magistrate does not HAVE to convict the officer, in effect saying tht he has the option of letting him go free, which he did exercise. The three Justices did not say that they believed he was innocent. they just said that they would not change or overule his decision, which he was free to make.
B_I_D___ 11 years ago
Ah the power and privelege of being back in the governing party, you can apply pressure and get your guilty kids out of a bind with the law...oh wait, this guy was a police officer as well...guess he thought he was above the law...now that mamma is back in favour, I guess he is!!
wave 11 years ago
O yes he has promise mommy that it will never happen again and she for her part is paying one of those voo doo pastors to exorcise these demons from him. All should be good now!
Ironvelvet 11 years ago
Ridiculous! He admits to a 14 y.o. and 15 y.o. coming into the bed with him, but that was no sex? This sounds like a case of Michael Jackson. When is it ever appropriate for a 14 y.o. and 15 y.o. to sleep in the bed with a grown man? I can attest I have never slept in the bed with my father ever.
He should have directed them back to their own bedrooms if that was the case, but notice he didn't say that did he?
Those girls slept in his bed and he had intercourse with them. That is obvious!
concernedcitizen 11 years ago
momma and him got the same taste
SP 11 years ago
Pirates they where and pirates they will remain!
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