Ignatious Victor McKenzie of Long Bay Cay, South Andros was found guilty of committing the crime by a unanimous six-man, six-woman jury after less than an hour of deliberation.
Justice Anita Allen said McKenzie’s crime was “reprehensible”, especially for a man of such stature in the church and community.
The fact that it was McKenzie’s first offence and that he had never been in trouble with the law before was taken into consideration before the sevenyear sentence was handed down.
The female victim took the witness stand and told court that McKenzie took her to a club and put “something like Bacardi” in her soda.
She said that she fell asleep in the bed located at the back of the club.
The girl told the court that when she awoke, McKenzie began reading the Bible over her before removing some item of her clothing.
He then groped and touched her, she told the court.
McKenzie was represented by lawyer Cecil Hilton. Darrell Taylor and Gawaine Ward prosecuted the case.
Source: Felicity Ingraham, The Tribune
