Psychologist testifies about mental state of complainant in Rowe rape case

The clinical psychologist who treated the complainant in the Neil Rowe rape case said the woman was distressed and in disbelief in the days after the alleged crime.

This was the testimony of Dr Dahlia Gibson, who held several sessions with the woman—virtually and in person—soon after she reached out to her the day following the alleged rape on September 18, 2022.

Dr Gibson, who has 25 years of practising clinical psychology, told the No. 5 Supreme Court on Thursday that during the first session via Zoom on September 20, her focus was on stabilising the complainant’s emotions in order to regulate them.

“She was crying…just pretty much in a state of shock,” she testified before Justice Pamela Beckles and the nine-member jury, adding that she sought “to get her to calm down, to assess what was going on, to understand how best to help her…and to ensure  she was not a danger to herself and to others”.

Asked by State Counsel Olivia Davis why she needed to ensure the woman was not a danger to herself and to others, the specialist expressed concern that victims of sexual assault often blamed themselves for the experience they were in.

“So, I wanted to make sure she was not…suicidal, or that there was no rage or anger to the [degree] that she might hurt someone,” the psychologist added.

The witness also testified that during a second session, this time in person, the complainant, who she described as one of her patients, told her for the first time that she had been sexually assaulted by Neil Rowe.

Dr Gibson said that at that second engagement, the woman still seemed upset and “very” distressed, but was able to share “a little bit” more of what she was experiencing.

“She was very animated at one point…in a state of disbelief, trying to figure out what could be her next step, given the situation she was in,” she told the court.

The prosecution has closed its case and next Tuesday, the jury will hear closing addresses from both sides.