By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN accused of sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s underage daughter at their Williams Lane home in 2024 claimed the complainant fabricated the allegation because he had disciplined her.
Anthony Bain, 50, testified in his own defence during his unlawful sexual intercourse trial before Justice Jeannine Weech-Gomez.
Prosecutors allege that Bain had sexual intercourse with the complainant when she was 11 while they were alone at a Williams Lane home sometime between August 1 and August 25, 2024.
Bain was the only witness called by the defence before it closed its case.
He said that, at the time of the alleged incident, he lived with his girlfriend and her four children, including the complainant.
Bain said he began working as a butcher at Parkgate Supermarket in March 2025.
During his second week on the job, his supervisor told him to check with the Criminal Detective Unit. Bain said he went to CDU, as well as the Wulff Road and Nassau Street police stations, to make inquiries about his criminal record and was told there was a bulletin issued for him.
After an officer explained the matter, Bain said he returned to the Wulff Road Police Station, where he was arrested and cautioned in connection with the allegation.
Bain said the complainant’s aunt and a police officer were present during a confrontation between him and the complainant.
He claimed the complainant refused to answer the officer’s questions during that confrontation.
Bain alleged that the complainant fabricated the accusation because he had disciplined her with a belt.
He denied ever having sex with her.
Bain said the allegation had affected him emotionally and mentally. He said he spent most of his time working or caring for his family.
He also said the situation had been difficult and claimed his girlfriend, the complainant’s mother, had suffered a stroke.
During cross-examination by prosecutor Erica Ingraham, Bain said he had a good relationship with the complainant.
Ms Ingraham asked whether a person who feared him would speak against him.
Bain said such a person should, but maintained that the complainant was not afraid of him.
He also said he had not been charged with beating her.
Bain agreed that he saw the complainant crying while giving evidence and that she appeared to have difficulty speaking about what she alleged had happened.
He said her demeanour was similar during the earlier confrontation.
Bain rejected Ms Ingraham’s suggestion that the complainant was afraid to speak in front of him in court, just as she had been during the confrontation.
Ms Ingraham said the complainant’s mother suffered her first stroke in August 2022 and two more in 2024.
Bain claimed the children stayed with their grandmother while their mother was in hospital.
He also claimed that, after she was discharged, he took the mother and the children to the grandmother’s home before going to work.
When asked whether he was working at the time of the alleged incident, Bain maintained that he had been at work all day.
He claimed that, before his arrest, his girlfriend called him after police informed her of the allegation and said: “Baby they coming to lock you up.”
Bain strongly denied deliberately evading police. He claimed he was at work when he received the call and that officers never came looking for him there.
He said the complainant was not a problem child.
Bain further claimed that he was not the only person who disciplined her and that her aunt also scolded her.
He said he never beat the complainant to hurt her, but only to discipline her.
Ms Ingraham put it to Bain that the complainant did not hate him, but feared him, which was why she took so long to disclose the allegation.
Bain said the complainant could not have been afraid of him if she made the allegation. He said he became scared and paranoid after it was made.
He said the complainant went to live with her aunts after the allegation was reported.
Bain denied placing the complainant in fear by having sex with her. He also denied telling her not to tell anyone about the alleged assault.
He maintained that he was telling the truth.
The prosecution alleged that Bain was working an evening shift sometime in August 2024 and was home alone with the complainant on the day of the alleged assault.
Ms Ingraham put it to Bain that he had taken the witness stand to lie.
Bain again denied the allegation and claimed the complainant had a reason to be untruthful because she feared punishment.
The matter returns later this week for closing arguments.
Danielle Kemp and Stanley Rolle represented Bain.
Valentino Bowe and Erica Ingraham prosecuted the case.
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