By RASBERT TURNER, Staff ReporterSPANISH TOWN:
TWO ST. CATHERINE men who were allegedly among a group of five who had sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl last month, were granted $80,000 bail in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court. They are Kemar Ffyfe and Sean Beckford.
Arresting Officer Detective Constable Ann Jackson of Spanish Town Police Station told the court that on Tuesday, March 23 at about 4 p.m. the complainant took a Toyota Coaster bus downtown to go to Central Village. The bus however turned off and drove through Lakes Pen. When they arrived at the bus park she started a conversation with Ffyfe and Beckford and went with them to a house along John's Road where they were watching television.
Medical examination
At about 5 p.m. both men held her and had sex with her without her consent. During the ordeal, five other males were said to have joined in.
After the incident, the complainant went to the Spanish Town Police Station and made a report and was taken to the Spanish Town Hospital for medical examination. The police launched an investigation and both men were arrested and charged with rape.
When they appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Errar Gayle, they pleaded not guilty. Beckford told the court that he was sick the day in question with what he said was migraine headache. Ffyfe told the RM that he is a student at a college in St. Andrew where he is studying electrical engineer.
Their lawyer told the court that both men have instructed him that they did have consensual sex with the complainant and didn't want the police to be involved.
RM Gayle granted the men bail on condition that they surrender their travel documents to return on April 19, 2004.
