By Ianthia Smith
The Bahamas Journal
June 24, 2009
http://www.jonesbahamas.com/news/45/ARTICLE/19974/2009-06-24.html
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| Anglican Archdeacon I. Ranfurly Brown |
Controversial Anglican Archdeacon I. Ranfurly Brown, who is accused of slapping a teen girl during a church picnic last year, appeared in court Tuesday for the start of his assault trial.
The alleged victim and her mother were among many witnesses who testified in court yesterday.
The Anglican priest is accused of assaulting the 14-year-old on October 13, 2008 at the St. Agnes Anglican Church annual church picnic on Nirvana Beach.
During her testimony, the girl, whose identity is being withheld, told the court that she was talking to her cousin and a group of boys when Father Brown approached them, and demanded that she move.
The teen girl testified that she walked away with one of her cousins, but claimed that Brown insisted she move further away from the group of boys.
She said when she stopped again to talk to another one of her male friends the Anglican priest confronted and started to push and shove her from the back, yanking on her shirt.
The teenager testified that when she tried to pull away the archdeacon slapped her to the left side of her face.
She told the court that she then hit Brown back and said that is when they started to fight.
She testified that they both eventually fell into the sand and claimed that Brown sat on top of her, choking her until she could not breathe.
She said after he choked her for a few seconds, he slapped her again.
Attorney Wayne Munroe is a part of Brown’s legal team. During cross examination, the girl admitted that slapping was a form of punishment and said if her mother or father had slapped her that she would not have fired back.
But she later told the court that her parents are the only people who are allowed to physically discipline her and insisted that the she would "never hit an adult first."
The girl’s mother also took the stand and admitted that she knew that her daughter was at the church’s beach picnic. She said she later received several calls that her daughter and Father Brown were in an argument.
When asked if she attempted to speak with Brown about the incident, the mother replied, no, and testified that she instead went to the Cable Beach Police Station where she met her daughter.
She was also asked if, considering that the archdeacon was in charge, she had any problem with him disciplining her child. She said "No, but within reason."
There was speculation that the girl was among a group of teenagers who were engaging in sexual activity in a cabana near the beach.
Mr. Munroe asked the teen’s mother if she would approve of her daughter performing oral sex on a man or being openly promiscuous and she said "no."
Three of the teen’s friends also testified in court that it was the archdeacon who picked the fight.
Brown was charged in April with assaulting the teenager.
At the time, he pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on police bail.
The case resumes on September 3 before Magistrate Ancella Evans-Williams in court number six. A doctor who assessed the girl after the incident is expected to testify.
Brown’s legal team is headed by Anthony McKinney and if found guilty, the Anglican priest would be required to pay a fine not exceeding $150 or spend three months in prison.
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