Former deputy speaker in Barbados found not guilty of rape

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Former deputy speaker of the Barbados Parliament, Neil Rowe, was on Wednesday found not guilty of raping a woman.

Rowe, 45, was on trial over the last month on accusations of having sexual intercourse with the woman without her consent or was reckless as to whether she consented at his Kingsland, Christ Church residence on September 18, 2022.

But, a nine-member jury found him not guilty of the charge that was heard by Justice Pamela Beckles, who had given a three-hour summation in the No. 5 Supreme Court after 26 days of testimony.

In January last year, Prime Minister Mia Mottley defended the decision to remove Rowe as deputy speaker, saying it would allow him to deal with a matter he faces before the High Court.

She insisted that Rowe would remain as the parliamentary representative for the St Michael North West constituency.

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