The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A CONSTRUCTION worker was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison yesterday after being charged with the statutory rape of a 12-year-old girl.

Darquel Russell, 19, of Berris Way, Fire Road, North Andros appeared before Magistrate Andrew Forbes facing a single charge of unlawful sexual intercourse, alleged to have been committed on May 17.

Russell, however, was not required to enter a plea to the charge, which is an indictable offence.

He was told that his case would be fast-tracked to the Supreme Court for trial through service of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment.

He appears before Chief Magistrate Joyanne Ferguson-Pratt on May 30 to learn which date this process will take place.

Magistrate Forbes concluded that the nature of the charge removed the court’s discretion to consider bail and further informed Russell that he had the right to apply for bail to the Supreme Court.