Rowe: I was framed

A nine-member jury on Wednesday unanimously found government backbencher Neil Rowe not guilty of rape after just over two hours of deliberation in a high-profile case that has attracted nationwide attention.

Rowe, the St Michael North West MP, was accused of raping a woman at his Kingsland, Christ Church home on the morning of September 18, 2022.

It took the five women and four men just over two-and-a-quarter hours of deliberation to reach their decision, after hearing 31 days of testimony, submissions from the prosecution and defence and a three-hour summation from No. 5 Supreme Court Justice Pamela Beckles.

Soon after Justice Beckles told the former deputy speaker of the House of Assembly he was free to go, he flashed a smile for the first time since the start of the trial.

Outside the courtroom, and surrounded by his mother, stepfather, attorneys and close friends, Rowe expressed gratitude to God for giving him the strength to “endure this situation from beginning to end”.

“Like I said from the beginning, even before I was charged, I knew that I was being set up for a crime that I did not commit. I said that then, and I would say it again now, that I knew I was set up for a crime that I did not commit,” Rowe told reporters.

He also thanked his support team, Minister of Health and Wellness Senator Dr Jerome Walcott, for believing in his innocence and sticking by his side from the outset, as well as Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who supported him.

But the government backbencher told reporters he was disappointed in the testimony of one of his colleagues.

The MP declared: “I am very grateful to be free, and to prove my innocence. I remained firm throughout this whole situation, because I knew within myself that I did not commit the act. I don’t know why it is so unbelievable for a man to date a woman without having to be intimate with her. But, like I said, I am grateful, and thanks to my legal team once again, to my close friends, my constituents, everybody that was there for me, everybody that sent me prayers, letting me know they had me in their prayers, I am grateful.”

Asked how he and his family have been affected by the criminal trial, the parliamentarian replied: “Honestly, my name being dragged through the mud, it affected my mom, parents, my children, especially…anybody that know me, and really know me, would know better. Anybody that know me as a person, would know better. It was a disgrace to know that my name was dragged through the mud for something that I did not do. So, that is one of the reasons that I continued to maintain my innocence.”

The freed legislator pointed out that he had to maintain a level of strength throughout the trial, especially for his children and other family members, because he knew he was not guilty of the charge. “But, I am thankful to God,” Rowe added.

Questioned about his political future, the MP for St Michael North West was adamant he wasn’t going anywhere.

“I never stopped working,” he insisted, “I continue working. Even when I went through everything that I been through, I continued working on behalf of my constituents. I never stopped, and I will continue to do my best for them. They continue to reach out to me, I continue to work on their behalf, so that would not stop.”

On whether he planned to assume the role of deputy speaker of the House – a position he was removed from after being charged – Rowe said it’s a matter he will discuss with Prime Minister Mottley.

His lead attorney, Michael Lashley SC, who was assisted by Safiya Moore, disclosed that his team, which also included Sade Williams and Johnelle King, was well-prepared.

Although commending the professionalism of state prosecutor Olivia Davis, Lashley described the State’s case as “shaky and rocky”.

“We were always confident, but now over-confident. We were well prepared in this matter,” the senior counsel stated.

He did admit that the wait for the jury to return its verdict was a nervous period.

Lashley said: “Any defence attorney, when the jury goes out, you feel jitters and you wonder what is going on, what is happening. But I still had confidence that we did a good job; I had confidence that we tore holes in the prosecution’s case. I had confidence that my closing address was impactful. So, the two hours waiting was a little jittery, but I expected this outcome, respectfully.”

More than a dozen witnesses were called for the prosecution in this case including the complainant and a forensic expert based in the United States and Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams, while four witnesses gave evidence for the defence, including Rowe, his friend Barry Daniel, and Rowe’s mother Merna Inniss.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb