“The thing about drunk people is you don’t want to get them angry, you just try to extricate as easily as possible.”
Complainant 2 Video Interview
(CMR) The video interviews of the two complainants in the case against McKeeva Bush, who is on trial for two counts of indecent assault, were played for the jury in court on Thursday, revealing that both women were emotional and crying over what had happened to them when they spoke to the police.
Both complainants expressed confusion about how to process what happened to them and what actions to take, citing that they were concerned about the bad impression the incident would make on the country, the government, and even Bush in his capacity as Speaker of Parliament.
The first complainant's video was played before lunchtime and she was also then cross-examined into the afternoon. She said she did not immediately make a report to the police but decided she needed to proceed because she has a daughter she needs to set a good example for, and she needed to stand up for herself.
The complainant who took the stand on Thursday, when asked if she was forced to give the police a statement, said:
“Before, I wasn’t brave enough, and I wasn’t smart enough – and I was reduced to feeling like a little girl.”
She said she was at first processing what had happened and was combing her hair in the bathroom when she decided to give a statement.
The complainant, who said she was kissed two times on the shoulder by Bush, said during the interview, “I feel I shouldn’t have to be here… If it happened in a bar … maybe I wouldn’t do anything about it.” She was there in her work capacity and concerned to keep Bush away from other guests, sharing that he was stumbling as he approached her.
On cross-examination, the complainant shared that on reflection of the video, maybe stumbling was not the most appropriate word to describe his movements, but he was definitely unsteady, and she believed it was due to intoxication.
His defense attorney, Bennett-Jenkins, KC, questioned her about Bush's medical conditions in an attempt to explain why he may have been instead of his feet, including two arthritic knees and nerve and disc issues in his lower back. The witness informed the attorney that she would have no reason to know of medical issues but that his speech also appeared impaired.
At one point, the defense attorney focused on how this complainant placed her hands on Bush's back – stating that from an objective observer, it looked like a warm and friendly embrace which was “customary in the Caribbean.” Whilst the alleged victim agreed it could appear that way, she stressed that, in fact, she was trying to prevent him from going further into the Caribbean Tourism Conference reception to further embarrass her minister, who was hosting the event.
The second complainant's video was played in the late afternoon and she is expected to be cross-examined early Friday morning. That interview explained that it was a “bizarre” incident. During her interview, she used the term bizarre multiple times to explain her encounter that evening.
She shared how she had been working the event and, after having a long work day, approached the bar at the far end of the reception hall looking for some food and a drink. She noticed Bush sitting down and appeared to have eyes that were glossed over and his head was swaying, and his drink was spilling. She also noted that:
“I was concerned right away – it seems he was drinking, and that concerned me.”
Upon greeting her, Bush hugged her “a little longer than was comfortable,” and she tried to move in a position so there was less contact. However, she said when she attempted to get away from Bush, he wouldn’t allow her to.
She expressed her concerns about wanting to leave before he got aggressive and to placate him, she was “very sweet and smiling and didn't want him to get aggressive.” She noted that there were a number of things she found odd about his behavior that night, and he was slurring his words and didn't seem initially to even know who she was.
She described him as “odd and creepy” and expressed confusion over the interaction, where it is alleged that Bush took her hand and placed some sort of hickey mark on it, leaving teeth impressions. This complainant expressed being confused and not sure what to make of the entire ordeal.
“He shouldn't be drunk in public like that and he shouldn't be groping people. This was a violation of what the Speaker of the House should be doing – it desecrates that.”
Speaking about how vague that part of the incident was and, in fact, it was complainant number 1 who pointed out the marks on her hand after she was able to get away from Bush. She shared how shocked she was but did not think to take photos of the teeth marks that night, referring to it as a “hickey on my hand.”
She explained hiding behind a column, wanting to avoid any further contact with him, admitting that she took some time to process things. She noted that she was not sure if what he did was a crime:
“I'm not sure if it's a crime to be a drunk old dude that puts a hickey on someone's hand.”
She went on to state, “It's inappropriate, and it's a risk where the government is concerned, not sure if this is a crime. I'm not outraged, I'm feeling very uncomfortable about all of this. Being conflicted, she noted, “I felt a sense of I should have done something afterward, but there were all of these people. I needed to make sure that I was ok.”
She did admit that there were lines that she shouldn't have crossed, and “all of it was odd and surreal and a bit shocking.” She added she felt violated.
She noted that upon leaving the venue, she went to the parking lot and called one of her bosses, the Cabinet Secretary, Samuel Rose. She sat in her car and spoke to him for some 20 minutes as he had a soothing voice.
She also recalled telling her husband, “I think the speaker of the house actually bit me – this is the most bizarre thing that has ever happened to me.”
The second complainant is expected to take the stand on Friday.
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