Former Premier McKeeva Bush has been given new trial dates for charges of rape and indecent assault.
This is the third time the court has set trial dates in these matters, following concerns raised by Bush’s legal team over a lack of funding and what they say is insufficient disclosure of evidence.
Bush, a veteran legislator and the current West Bay West MP, faces two counts of indecent assault and two counts of common assault, which he denies. They stem from an alleged incident at a government function at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in September 2022.
He also faces an unrelated charge of rape, which is alleged to have occurred in the early 2000’s. He denies the allegations.
Initially, a week-long trial was slated for 11 Sept. 2023 for the assault matters; however, that trial date was abandoned days before it was due to start. A subsequent date was set for the first week of November 2023, which was also abandoned for a December date.
A similar set of delays also plagued the rape allegations. In June, Bush entered not guilty pleas to the charge and a week-long jury trial was set for 6 Nov. 2023, which was also cancelled.
During a brief case management hearing on Monday, 11 Dec., which Bush did not attend, his attorney Dennis Brady told the court they would be in a position to proceed to trial in February 2024 on the assault matters and in July that year for the rape trial.
Justice Cheryll Richards, who presided over the hearing, set a new date of 16 Feb. 2024 for the assault charges and a trial date of 24 June for the rape matter.
Bush remains on bail.
Related Videos
