A 50-year-old man was reduced to tears on Thursday after his mother withdrew as his surety.
And at the end of the day’s sitting, David Ricardo Gittens, of Storey Gap, Howells Cross Road, St Michael, was remanded to Dodds after being unsuccessful in contacting someone to stand bail on his behalf.
The accused is facing an indictable rape charge. It is alleged that he, along with another man, had sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old girl between May 25 and 26, 2021.
Addressing the court on Thursday, Gittens’ mother told Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes that her son was a no-show at his May 5 hearing and the court informed her that she had to present him to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, or she would have to pay the court the bail amount of
$10 000.
“I love my son. Since the 6th of May, this is the first time I seeing David in this courtroom today,” said the emotional woman who also revealed that her mother had died.
“I have not seen David since the 6th of May when he came to court and I say ‘your court date was yesterday and you now come to go to court?’ He ask me for the paper and I give the paper.
“I ain’t got it,” she said of the bail amount and added “. . . because I now got to pay for my mother death and when he ain’t meeting me halfway as his mother to support it, I can’t do it, my honour, cause when I come in front you I got to give you the money” she added.
Chief Magistrate Weekes relieved the mother of her duty, telling her she was free to withdraw.
The accused Gittens began crying at that point, telling the court “my mother shouldn’t do this to me . . . . I am going through a lot of stress too and I know home is a lot of stress right now. . . . I just needed space for myself. I didn’t even know my grandmother pass away. I haven’t been home lately.”
The Chief Magistrate responded: “Right now you are up a creek – can’t think of any other Bajan expression to use – . . . . Common decency would have been for you to contact your mother”.
After giving the accused an opportunity to contact someone to act as surety – which were all unsuccessful –, the magistrate told Gittens he would have to be remanded.
Still crying, he begged for a chance.
“This thing happen to me so sudden. I didn’t expect my mother to come here and take way the bail . . . . Some mothers have to try to understand what the children are going through,” Gittens said.
He was told that he should not disrespect his mother and reminded of the Bible verse which speaks to honouring one’s mother and father.
Gittens was remanded to reappear before the court on June 10, when he will get another chance to present another suitable surety.
