Lewis' trial date set for May 30
Published:Friday | February 18, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
A 10-member jury will decide the fate of international pastor the Reverend Dr Paul Lewis in his carnal-abuse trial come May 30.
Lewis' legal counsel, Keith Bishop, is getting ready to tackle the agreements of the Crown, which is pressing ahead with its case of carnal abuse and perverting the course of justice against the televangelist.
"The perversion of justice charge has been placed on the mention list so that will be called up in the (Savanna-la-Mar) RM (Resident Magistrate's) Court on May 30. But the carnal-abuse trial will take place on the same day, something we feel pleased about," attorney-at-law Keith Bishop noted.
"My client remains in good faith about his chances before the jury, so we are ready come May 30 to have the jury members hear our side of the agreements in this matter."
Cases to clear
The pastor's case was delayed two weeks ago because the RM Court had outstanding cases to clear, and Dr Lewis' perversion-of-the-course-of-justice case was not one of them.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) filed additional papers related to the carnal-abuse case in the Circuit Court on February 2 that resulted in an adjournment.
Allegations in the carnal-abuse matter are that in June 2009, Dr Lewis met a 15-year-old girl at a church convention in Little London, Westmoreland, where he was a guest preacher.
He allegedly exchanged telephone numbers with the girl and, in a subsequent meeting, took her and a 14-year-old female companion with him on a trip to Clarendon.
On their return to Westmoreland, the girls reportedly spent the night with him at his Negril hotel. It was during that night that the alleged sexual encounter took place.
Lewis will also answer to charges of perverting the course of Justice. Allegations have emerged that a witness was paid to coax the girls involved in the carnal abuse matter.
The pastor's $300,000 bail in the carnal-abuse matter has been extended. He is also out on $300,000 bail for the perversion-of-justice charge.