The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

ALLEGED child abductor De’Edra Gibson will appear before Justice Bernard Turner next week to receive the date she will stand trial for abducting four boys from various places in New Providence early last year.

Last April, Gibson was charged before Magistrate Samuel McKinney with abducting three eight-year-old boys and a three-year-old between February and March of 2019.

During her initial arraignment, her attorney at the time, Howard Thompson Jr told Magistrate McKinney that the accused had a history of mental health issues. He also stated that Gibson had spent some time in the psychiatric ward of Brookdale University Hospital in New York in 2018.

At the time, Ms Gibson was remanded to Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) for a psychiatric evaluation and was later granted $20,000 bail with two sureties by Justice Gregory Hilton.

Later that year, while out on bail, she was charged with a single count of attempted child stealing.

Since child stealing is an indictable offence and one that can only be tried in the Supreme Court, she was ordered to be remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Yesterday, Gibson’s attorney, Uel Johnson, told Justice Turner that he had an opportunity to speak with the accused woman “face-to-face” at BDCS and she was able to speak to him “directly.”

Mr Johnson said the last time he met with his client, they agreed that her “medication was working fine” and that she would be able to attend court so that a “proper trial date” could be set.

As a result, Justice Turner adjourned the matter to July 6 so that Gibson would be able to appear in court. He also said that while the “tentative trial date” is set for July 20, he will determine whether the trial will begin on that date or be scheduled for another time.

Still, he noted that due to the ages of the virtual complainants, the matter should be held during the summer so that they do not have to miss school to attend court.