Bush found not guilty in historic rape case
(CNS): It took the jury of four women and three men little more than one hour on Monday afternoon to find McKeeva Bush (MP) not guilty of rape and sexual assault. As the foreman delivered the verdict at around 3:20pm, he said that it was unanimous. Bush then told the court he intended to call for a commission of inquiry into the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the police commissioner.
Outside the courthouse, Bush said he was bringing a motion to parliament, which was supported by Chris Saunders MP, to look into the ODPP because of the persecution against him and other cases that the office had brought that had raised concerns.
Earlier in court today, lead defence counsel Jerome Lynch KC told the jury that his client had a right to be angry about the false allegations of historic rape. Bush, a former premier and speaker and a current West Bay MP, had emphatically denied the accusation made by a local George Town woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons. She claims he sexually assaulted her in a mangrove clearing off the West Bay Road more than 20 years ago.
As he summed up Bush’s response to the charges, Lynch said that among the many issues the jury should consider as they deliberated was how, in the same way that a man cannot know what it is like for a woman to be raped, a woman cannot know what it is like for a man to be falsely accused of rape.
He said it was the most serious of offences, and Bush was not capable of it. But he said the jury should not be surprised that Bush had been angry when he took the stand in his own defence, given the accusation.
Lynch also talked about the crown’s failure to offer a date for when the alleged rape and sexual assault took place. When he was arrested, Bush was told the potential date of the alleged crimes spanned a period of some six years between 1999 and 2005, while on the indictment, the crown said the rape occurred sometime between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2001.
However, throughout the case, prosecutor Eloise Marshall KC had focused on the year 2000, though no date has ever been identified, making it impossible for Bush to refute the allegations with an alibi.
“You have to give him a chance to be able to defend himself,” Lynch told the jury, saying that this put Bush in an impossible position when it came to demonstrating his innocence.
He said the police had tried to identify a possible date by confirming the political event at the Sea Inn bar in George Town where the woman claims she had gone to before agreeing to drive Bush home. But none of the people Bush’s accuser has said were there that night were called by the crown to give evidence.
During the course of the trial, Lynch said the police officer who led the investigation had spoken to Sir Alden McLaughlin because the woman said the political gathering was connected to his early political career, either when he was first running for office or just after he was elected for the first time. But McLaughlin, the current speaker of the House and Bush’s long-time political rival, had said he was unable to assist the police as he had no recollection of such an event.
Lynch pointed out that this lack of a specific date, the failure of the investigators to be able to confirm such a related political event and the lack of any witnesses, who could have been subpoenaed regardless of whether or not they wanted to testify, was fundamental to the crown’s case. But it also undermined Bush’s ability to defend himself against what he has consistently, from the moment of his arrest until he took the stand, said was a “pack of lies”.
Lynch also pointed out that Bush has never owned a Ford Expedition, the SUV that the woman says she had driven Bush home in and which the crown had presented as Bush’s own vehicle. Bush has said that at the time he owned a Lincoln Town Car, and Lynch asked why the crown had not presented the records and checked which vehicles he owned over the period they suggest the rape occurred.
As he wrapped up Bush’s defence, Lynch said that the vagueness of and the subtle changes in the woman’s account were not just because she could not remember what had happened so many years ago but because she was lying, as he urged the jury to acquit his client.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Local News
Oh yes, the old witch hunt narrative. As tooted by Trump and now by McKeeva, at just the right time before elections – hopefully the silly Bayas don’t fall for this victim narrative.
The big question, how much did the court case cost the tax payers ?
Yet the DPP and Prosecutorial arm of the Cayman laughs on louder with every failure. They DPP office is an absolute shamble and it has been for over the last 15 years. No one gets fire, they get promoted to be judges and KC’s.
Love you Mr. Bush
Bless up Mr. Bush. Don’t them get you down ever.
Maybe CNS can find out exactly who the most senior person was who signed off on bringing this prosecution. Then share with us who nominated the former Commissioner for a KPM. Neither piece of information is secret or at least it shouldn’t be.
courts are sending wrong message! politicians can do anything…..as the amount of timrme they get off..untouchable! lol
nah nah nah, dont bring that BS about. If it was your father or brother you wouldnt expect some vague story about an allegation as serious as rape, from some 24 years ago, from some 6 year possible range of occurance. This is exactly the message that needs to be sent, when you are accusing someone of the high crime of rape, you must be able to provide basic evidence of such. People with your think are a danger to society.
Oh who could have seen this out come….. Literally everyone.
“she told the jury that the former premier of the Cayman Islands is not immune from prosecution”.
In theory…
…whilst mere ministers are immune from breathalyzing and their spouses do not have to abide by covid restrictions and a free press can be openly derided for asking appropriate questions…
Commission of Inquiry needed not only for DP but also AG, judiciary for other issues and legal profession regulation. Different treatment for different people has to stop. All not equal before the law in Cayman.
Not guilty is not the same as innocent.
The result is the same though. As is the *lack of* accountability.
I feel sorry for the victim in this case. I think we all believe her and applaud her for coming forward.
It’s appalling that her mother and brother did not stand by her.
West Bayers it time to do what a jury won’t do. Retire this man once and for all.
I predict no more than 30 faithful supporters will show up at his meeting tonight. That should shut him up.
“We ALL believe her”?
I don’t know about that. You cant come forward with something like this 20 to 25 years (she can’t even provide the year) after an alleged incident.
bull crap statement 7:15 AM
I am no fan of McKeeva or Donald Trump. But with these prosecutions there is a real undercurrent of “we’re going to get him”. How can a prosecutor ever have thought there was a real prospect of McKeeva being found guilty? If this same evidence had been against an unknown person we all know it wouldn’t have come close to a criminal charge.
We can all just continue to pray that one day, one of them sticks. On both counts.
well done on making mac look like a victim….
time for direct rule…this place is a joke on every level.
Just exactly what brand of cognitive dissonance are you labouring under the weight of that you could be so asinine and purposefully unaware that it is the crown who owns and controls the ‘justice system’ here in Cayman? Heads up genius, they already have direct rule and/or control of that which you speak of, and as such, responsibility for the failures (purposeful or not) which you speak of falls directly at their feet and/or in their lap. Your disingenuity is laughable, but not surprising.
Spot on, but far too many big words for the “direct rule” mouth-breathers to process, so you won’t get a response.
shambolic on all levels….the dpp and civil service incompetence is never ending.
another gloriuos day for the dpp, rcips and the civil service generally.
any comment mrs governor???
no statute of limitations on sexual offences like rape and indecent assault that’s why.
There are no statue of limitations for any criminal acts under UK law, except for minor “summary offences” (six months).
…and yet no one will even investigate any of the Cabinet Status grants? How rotten are we?
Agreed. Guilty there.
because he got away with giving dem away too. like he gets away with else as can be seen..go figure.
get over it already
Never. It appears to have been tainted by overt acts of corruption and has wrought and continues wreak havoc on our society, our culture, and our sustainability.
Hooray, justice is served. Honorable Bush you are the greatest, please be our premier again so we can really prosper.
I would’nt go that far, Yes, he got off. Perhaps not that he is innocent, perhaps because of the lack of evidence. I pray the woman will be able to find solace in the fact that she fought for her justice without family support. It must have been difficult.
My heart breaks for the victim. She was very brave.
Mac hang it up. You are past your sell date.
West Bayers wake up Bush x2 need to go. You deserve better.
We need a commission of enquiry into the mass status grants, Stan Thomas case, China Harbour fiasco, explosives case, credit card abuse, why the gambling amendment bill has never been debated and the list goes on.
DPP stand strong.
Breaks for Cayman This abomination has lasted way too long !
McTrump.
Case was too old.
Guilty or not he’s a terrible person in my eyes.
The Mac Bush blight festers on😵💫🤮. He’s like syphilis to Cayman and there seems no remedy in sight.
well he is a convicted woman beater….but bayers voted him back in and wayne/pact releid on him to grab power.
caymanians being caymanians. no one to blame but themselves.
I am no Bush fan, but this case should have never been brought to trial. You simply cannot make these accusations 20 years later. How is it plausible that the alleged victim cannot remember the year or month?
I am no fan of McKeeva’s. He is a sleazy misogynist and generally a human disgrace.
But why on earth was this case brought to trial? Who thought this was a good idea? Why did a highly respected KC agree to prosecute? I don’t get it at all.
for the big bucks mate
Why did he need a KC, when he had the guy from The Matrix already?
Hell, based on this story, I think I could have successfully defended him. I think he is an odious, vile excuse of a human being, but I can see why he’s so upset about the DPP and police.
🤣😂
Sadly for the women there sounded like there wasn’t enough evidence although I ABSOLUTELY believe her.
All of his supporters should be ashamed for supporting him through ALL of the numerous allegations, where there is smoke there is fire. If anyone has ever had the misfortune of meeting him, they MUST have felt the “ICK” factor. WAKE UP!
his supporters don’t care about the ICK, they only care about the next fridge or stove
Yep they are SAD indeed!
People like you and those who thumbs up this comment should never be on an jury panel or be able to vote for that matter as you clearly lack the mental capacity to analyze fatz, you instead rely on how things feel in moment. the ‘ick’ factor? grow the hell up.
Have you met him? I agree with the poster, also had the misfortune of being introduced to him once and my intuition also sent the hairs on the back of my neck into turmoil. Glad I wasn’t very friendly.
Tefal Mac
Bush is not a good character but this case was ludicrous from the beginning.