Pastor, co-accused yet to secure new attorneys in rape case
Published:Tuesday | February 1, 2022 | 12:09 AM
WESTERN BUREAU:
JASON ROSE, the St James-based pastor who is charged with the rape of a 15-year-old girl; his wife, Kehmi Rose; and the girl’s mother are expected to settle their legal representation before they next appear in the St James Circuit Court on April 27.
The trio had their bails extended following their latest in-camera appearance in the Circuit Court yesterday.
Prior to the latest update of their need to settle legal representation, Jason Rose was represented by attorney Tamika Spencer-Anderson; Kehmi Rose’s lawyer was Adrian Dayes; and Martyn Thomas was the lawyer for the complainant’s mother, whose name is being withheld to protect the minor’s identity.
Very little information has been released regarding the case since it was transferred from the St James Parish Court on September 27 last year.
Yesterday’s hearing marks the fourth time they have appeared before the St James Circuit Court since their case was first heard there on October 6, with subsequent appearances on October 14 and December 8.
Besides the pastor’s rape charge, all three defendants are charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
In the case against Jason Rose, on May 28, 2021, the complainant reported that she had been raped by the pastor on his church’s compound, where she had gone to use the Internet for an educational project.
Following the pastor’s arrest and charge, Kehmi Rose and the teen’s mother were arrested and charged after the mother went to the police’s Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offices and Child Abuse with the intention of giving a statement that the child’s initial rape accusation was untrue.
While being interviewed by the police in the presence of a Child Protection and Family Services Agency representative, the complainant reportedly explained that she was being forced to give the second statement by her mother, the accused pastor, and the pastor’s wife in order for the case to be dropped.
The women were arrested the following day.
A gag order was previously imposed on the court by presiding parish judge Sasha Ashley concerning the case’s details.