Preacher Carlton O'Neal found guilty of assaulting wife
His guilty verdict was delivered on Monday, December 9, 2019, at the Magistrate's Court in John's Hole on Tortola.
Magistrate Ayanna O. Baptiste-DaBreo said she could not believe his side of the story as it was not making logical sense.
The Magistrate said O'Neal kept repeating simple questions while he was being cross-examined as if he was trying to buy time to figure out his response.
Magistrate DaBreo then said she believed the Crown's version of events of what the Virtual Complainant, his wife, testified to during the trial.
O'Neal will be sentenced on January 14, 2020, for the offence.
Closing arguments
During the closing arguments, Prosecutor Kael London asked the court to "accept the VC as a witness of truth" because her evidence was coherent and consistent, especially during cross-examination.
He said the swollen wrist in the medical report and the photos, "lends to the consistency of the VC's testimony," as opposed to the now-convicted man's testimony to the court that was riddled with inconsistencies.
"His demeanour was quite evasive," London pointed out and beseeched Magistrate DaBreo to reject his testimony.
"The Crown has discharged its burden, find him guilty," he surmised.
Attorney for O'Neal, Stacy Abel sought to discredit the VC's testimony, telling the court that the wife packed seven suitcases and never said she was in pain or took medication for pain on the day of the alleged incident.
She said the VC endangered the life of occupants of the vehicle and other road users when she tried to exit the car during traffic and her husband "did grab her hand and had reason to grab her hand."
The Defense Attorney then attacked the work of the investigating officer, who she felt did not do a good job while investigating the matter.
Attorney Abel said the photos of the VC's wrist were taken four days after the alleged incident and the officer did not even visit the scene of the alleged crime in Sea Cows Bay.
"We are only here because she didn't get her $15,000 to leave. If she had gotten the $15,000 we would not be here. There are too many holes in this story; it doesn't make sense," Abel argued.
In response, London said the VC packing suitcases after the incident was irrelevant and the Investigating Officer could testify to the VC's appearance on that day.
He said bringing the VC to the crime scene was "neither here nor there", and the Magistrate should instead look at the evidence before the court.
The VC said her husband offered her $15,000 after he abused her in the presence of their young son.
According to the VC, she left her husband and returned to Jamaica with their son and was 'doing well.' She; however, decided to return and give her marriage another chance, but the alleged domestic abuse continued.
But, the defendant said his wife had kidnapped his child and wanted to extort him.
See link to related story below:
http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/husband-accuses-expat-wife-of-kidnapping-extortion
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40 Responses to “Preacher Carlton O'Neal found guilty of assaulting wife”
Whose side has the holes? A story is of 2 or more people, generally. So if the story has holes in it, why you claiming, by means of your defending, that one is guilty and the other is not?
Where is the two storey house that u build out a u husband stay in it,no u have look to some where else to live .
If you all dont know the full story dont say anything. I don't care where a man or woman from when you wrong you're just wrong...kmt
You all local men love style on we local women for the next hot thing that come to our shores.
Stop talk crap...If you dont know dont say. He abuse her but because he's a so called preacher he cant be wrong and because of where the young lady from what she say is a lie. She didnt tell a lie on him...he tried to prison her instead he sending his self to prison. Set a wicked unuh be to be backing him with his wrong...then preach to people in church...kmt
Sorry, was she not on the prayer time? Does she not do to church? You people keepe blogging on the man, is she a christian still? She admit she ask for the money and even tell the court he she expected him to pay for her life in Jamaica. What nonsense you talking.
when u did a visit all the big hotel etc him was a nice person and my god out a the blues sky him turn wicked man. I can just imagine the hard times thus man had with U.
god is going to help this man just fast and pray sir she come back to match. up the man life but god is not sleeping u run to jamaica run girl u will see u call that man and beg him forgiveness because this was a good man to u ,u talk that from ur mouth so much he did for u and a so u pay him back my god man u should have dealt with it better.
Please tell the public why him should stay off the radio ,the radio station belongs u ,go sit down god nah sleep and that wicked g** a go pay.u ago see when u man a jamaica fix u business now when u go back and don't have no more money to get from u husband to give u man ,just watch out
It is God. Take the time to capitalize since God gives us time each day to breathe.
Stop talk if you don't know anything, she didn't report him, he went to the police on her and when the girl when to the station and tell them what really happened,they charge him. every one as weakness but he need to seek him, is not now the girl as being complaining about the abuse, Stop! Go and get him help.
Stop talking what you don't know. After he report her for trying to extort money from him and kidnap his son, someone from the p...obviously called her and alerted her. She then went to the station and told a set of l***. She is the one that needs help. He went to the police to stop her from taking his son. They claiming that he tried to give her money after he abused her, does that make sense? If he intended to give her money would he not have done it. Stop talking what you don't know.