Man accused of raping tourists returns to court in January

WESTERN BUREAU:

Demar Scott, the man who was arrested and charged with allegedly raping two female American visitors at gunpoint at the RIU Reggae Hotel in Montego Bay, had his case transferred from the St James Parish Court to the Western Regional Gun Court on Wednesday. He is to make an appearance in the Gun Court on January 24, 2019.

Scott, who is also charged with simple larceny arising from the incident, appeared before presiding judge Sandria Wong-Small, with one arm in a cast. During the alleged incident, he was reportedly shot and injured by one of the visitors, who told investigators that she picked up and fired the weapon, which had fallen from Scott's hand.

Wong-Small made the order for the case to be transferred to the Gun Court after the prosecution indicated that that court had greater jurisdiction over the matter, given the nature of the allegations against Scott.

"The matter is transferred to the Western Regional Gun Court to be heard on January 24. I need to see an order indicating that the matter is to be transferred," Wong-Small said before remanding Scott into custody.

Scott was employed at the RIU Hotel as an entertainment coordinator two days before the incident, which occurred on September 27. He allegedly forced his way into the women's hotel room and held them up at gunpoint. While raping one of the women, the gun fell from his hand.

Jumped over balcony

It is further alleged that the other woman, who was raped first, picked up the gun and shot Scott twice. Scott managed to escape by jumping over the balcony. He was taken into custody a day later with a gunshot wound to his arm.

The gun, which was handed over to the police, was afterwards reported to have been stolen from the room of a licensed firearm holder at the hotel.

The case gained further notoriety when reports surfaced that Scott was listed by the Manchester police as a person of interest regarding several rapes committed in that parish from as far back as March 2 this year. It was also reported that forensic evidence had linked Scott to a 2012 rape, burglary, and robbery in Balaclava, St Elizabeth.