Alleged Victim Provides Detailed Account of Events in Neil Rowe Rape Trial at High Court in Emotional Testimony

In a two-and-a-half-hour emotional testimony, during which she struggled to hold back tears, the alleged victim in the Neil Rowe rape trial took the High Court through a detailed account of what she experienced at the Member of Parliament’s home on September 18, 2022.

The 38-year-old woman explained that her first encounter with Neil Rowe, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and Member of Parliament for St Michael North West, stemmed from her involvement with the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) since 2006. She also served on the executive committee of the Christ Church East Constituency branch, led by MP Wilfred Abrahams, and would see Rowe at events organised by Abrahams.

She recalled meeting Rowe briefly at a political meeting in Six Roads, St Philip, but their next interaction occurred in 2022 at a beach party during the Crop Over season, where he asked for her phone number, which she gave him.

The court heard that Rowe reached out to her in August 2022.

While she declined his initial invitation, she accepted a subsequent one the following month, and they went to a restaurant together.

Afterward, Rowe drove her home.

The complainant testified that she accepted another invitation from Rowe, and after dining at a café, they were supposed to head to their respective homes. However, instead of driving her directly to her residence, Rowe said he needed to stop at his Kingsland Terrace, Christ Church home first, which he did.

She said she remained in his car, but Rowe insisted that she go inside with him because he would be long. While there, she said, the accused touched her hands and tried to kiss her. However, she testified that she rejected his advances and asked him to take her home, which he did.

The complainant told the court that she went to a subsequent event with a friend, and saw Rowe there. She said that while she,her friend, Abrahams and others were talking, Rowe came over and offered to take her home. The woman said she accepted the offer because she trusted him and he lived nearer to her home than the friend who would have to travel to the north.

She said after having some alcoholic drinks and feeling “woozy” and tired, she ended up at Rowe’s house, where she asked to go to the toilet.

The complainant told the court she had no energy and after Rowe walked her to the bathroom door, she pushed in the door and slumped back on the toilet seat to urinate.

It was at that time, she testified, that the accused came in and pulled off her jeans and panties which she had previously barely been able to get down.

She said she ended up on the bed because she was tired, lightheaded and sleepy, and when she woke up, Rowe was between her legs performing oral sex. The complainant said she had no energy to fight him off, but kept telling him to stop.

However, she said, he eventually penetrated her.

She said she was scared and on several occasions, told Rowe to take her home but he said he would when he was ready.

The case was adjourned until Friday morning.