Police charge man with rape
Police said that enquiries conducted by local CID officers resulted in the arrest of Ebanks, who has now been formally charged with the rape of the male victim and will now make his first appearance in Summary Court later today. Anyone with information about crime taking place in the Cayman Islands should contact their local police station or call Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS).
Category: Headline News
Cayman got too greedy for too long, the rich expats got richer, the poor got poorer, the expats were discarded in the rollover plan, the locals left behind are angry, as far as I can see everyone came out a loser.
Signed,
A rich expat who got rich in Cayman and was rolled over
CNS – Why were we able to comment on this story, when it just went to court yesterday and not able to comment on the other cases that is going on?
CNS: Because it is not a story in which we are covering court procedings.
Now I know that I have fallen further than I realized because now I am more lost than ever.
The virulence of some of the posters against gays coming off the cruise ship for fear of being ‘infected’, ‘contaminated’ (in their less than a day’s stay docked in Cayman) – as if being gay is viral – more deadly than H1N1, SARS, or HIV, is amazing.
However, in this new twist to the latest atrocity happening in paradise island, some of the posters want this swept under the carpet – because he/she ‘could not see any value in publizicing this’.
XXXXXX
What about how the victim might have felt when the deed was done?
He might have already known the consequences of going public and weighed the pros and cons and still decided to report it. That was his decision to make.
For some time now, we have been appealing for witnesses to report crime, to help the police, and now that the victim himself reported it, there is no value in publizicing it?
Ohlala!
I pray for Cayman and that justice will be done. Too many bury their heads in the sand and pretend that something hasn’t happened. I hope the community does everything they can to support the victim and his family, and that such crimes are stamped out . A brave man indeed for reporting such a heinious, immoral and evil act.
Bravo to the victim – it is hard enough being female and reporting a rape and the prejudice one comes up against is frightening – but for a man to actually stand up and say that he has been raped knowing full well what he will come up against – the disbelief, ridicule, taunting, prejudice, discrimination etc. – is a brave soul indeed.
My thoughts are with him and I hope he is able to receive the counselling he will need to deal with this horrible matter.
People are people no matter where so go ahead andimagine how you would feel, what you would do and what you would want to happen but somewhere in you conversation with yourself add in the fact that this did not happen to you but to another person that has his own feelings and wants and needs. He is the only one that has suffered this and his wishes should be the ones acted on.
Being charged does not mean being found guilty!!! It means that there is enough evidence to take you to court for a crime!!!
This is an absolute outrage. They gone from raping grown women to molesting children to raping grown men…AllI can say is "no sah" & hang my head down in shame. Once upon a time this type of thing was unheard of in Cayman, no wonder our future looks so dim. The place has gone mad. My prayers are with the victim…as for the perp…well it’s not for CNS.
XXXXXXX
God Bless Cayman now more than ever.
Do they name the alleged rapist where they have been charged in the case where a woman has beem raped? If so, I see no reason why the person charged should not be named in this case. I believe once a person is charged with a crime, there is no reason for them not to be named, unless to protect the identity of a victim (usually where the victim is a child).
My thoughts goes out to the poor victim who had to endure this indignity.
Did you read the article?
"Leonard Antonio Ebanks of West Bay has been charged with rape"
Yes ‘charged‘ means the Police brought the charge against him but it’s now left to the Legal system to prove or disprove this charge. The Court has to see whether the evidence is there to convict him. He’s still ‘innocent’ until proven ‘guilty’.
Sounds like you just love news too much. What would knowing his name add? You said it yourself, ALLEGED, and NO the name of the alleged perpetrator doesnt automatically have to be released whether the victim is male or female or underaged. Keeping schtum is to give the accused a fair trial if he faces a jury of his peers. He hasnt been convicted, and until such time cannot be treated as a convict.
I know if i were the victim or if the victim was a family member or friend of mine I would want to make sure NOTHING was done to compromise the proceedings. Publicizing his name adds nothing poisitive to the victim’s case.
Are you serious? Imagine how embarrassing this must have been for the man that had to report it! I wonder what the first response of the police was? Sexual assault is a serious but yet very sensitive issue for many persons and it takes a lot of courage for ANYONE to come forward, I’m sure but I can only image the fear of a 31 yr old MAN.
XXXXX
Charged means he has been arrested, but there has still to be a trial, unless he confesses or makes a deal.
Until then much as it annoys a lot of people on this board he is innocent until proven guilty.
Personally my thoughts are with the victim
What a disgrace!!!! What next?
Is there anything worse about male rape than female rape? Surely not. They’re both terrible crimes of violence. We need to watch we don’t gag over male rape just because most of the posters are male.
Most definitely. People will not ridicule a woman who has been raped. She will have a great deal of sympathy. Not so with a man. His manhood is seen as compromised and it will be difficult for him ever to recover from it. He gets victimised twice. All of this is leaving aside the unnatural aspect of the act. There is really little comparison.
OMG, What a disgrace!!!
here is some free legal advice, and No, I’m not a qualified lawyer, BUT, you may want to avoid a jury of your peers and go for a ‘judge only’ trial… not entirely sure you’d get a fair trial based on the recent comments in the press by your ‘peers’…..
Dear Lord, whats this world coming to…. Went from rapin’ woman now man…our lil island needs some serious spiritual cleansing…
Am sorry I believe I am missing something! Besides the plain humiliation of the victim and his family, and, in this case, I happen to know that the 39 year old man has at least one adult child, humiliation of her, I cannot see any value in the publizicing of this. Am I missing something?
With the printing of his name, in such a small community, others will want to know the victim. Now this man is innocent until proven guilty, but lets say for argument sake he is found guilty, do we believe any similiar case involving an adult man will likely come forward again? I seriously doubt it. The humiliation would be too much for that man; especially, given the, UNFORTUNATELY, negative, taboo and ungodly attitude that this engenders.
As painful as it is or has been for the victim and his familily, all in this case might aswell pack it up and leave their country. Life will never be the same even for the alleged perpetrator’s family. I pray not. I pray that all will have a chance to heal and that our community will be less nosy and judgemental and more about embrace and affirmation of their (his) dignity.
Hope we are not trying to "boil the ocean" with the printing of this.
It’s about time people where named and shamed.These crimes are commited by individual’s and not there family’s, the family are not responsible for a relative’s behavior, they have nothing to be ashamed of.
Thanks CNS.
Actually I would normally agree with you, but we both know different. I think most missed the point and it is a simple one phased in a question: What value, given the story, does this community get from printing this, other than appeal to our zest for gossip? Mind you we are not talking about children. Now also ask: Who will benefit from the publizing of this? Are our lives at danger? Go further: do we stand to injure the MALE victim in this…again not a CHILD and ADULT MALE. Do you think any other male will report this if it ever happened again? Answer these honestly and we can chat.
I actually find it disgusting as well folks. There is a greater responsibility here.
Woman report rape and have to deal with the consequences as a victim, what’s so different about a man? he has still be violated and has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, NOTHING at all. I take my hat off to that man for having the ball’s to come forward and report it, he has real gut’s.It’s time stuff like this stop’s getting shoved under the carpet like it never happend,(If we dont speak about it,well,maybe it will go away)dont think so.
I actually agree with you. I see no sense in the printing of this besides more shame and pain for the victim. I think people are missing your very valid points.
I totally agree with you on this.
I am really glad that this horrible situation brought out this sentiment from the local population because it offers an opportunity to discuss this attitude here in Cayman which is so destructive to locals and expats alike.
This island is very unforgiving toward its people, it is shown in the treatment of released inmates from Northwardand anytime a person steps out of the Cayman cultural party line.
Instead of confronting the unforgiving nature of the people here those people for fear of being shunned keep secrets. Those secrets include family members involved in criminal behavior as well as victims of crimes that could bring shame to the family.
What is ironic is that the Cayman society proclaim what proud Christians live here and the proud Christian heritage the country enjoys when the major tenet of Christianity is forgiveness is ignored.
This flaw in the society must change, If I ever meet the man who was the victim of this crime I would and will look him in the eye and shake his hand for being a man among sheep.
XXXXXI am very proud of the victim for reporting this as I am sure it was extremely embarassing to him . God bless him and give him the strength to see this through.
Your just not paying attention. This man was brought to court therefore his name at that time is PUBLIC record. Stop the secrecy in Cayman and I bet things get better and family members start taking more accountability.
This is a horrible crime and I expect the Minister Association to be up in arms about it.
My well wishes for the victim and I respect his courage in reporting this crime.
Most male – male rapes are not reported out of macho pride. Jail and prison male – male rapes are fairly common in many places.
Why is it important what the minister’s association think about any of this?
nowt to do with them.
Here we go again…
Can you really believe this???? really what is this world coming to, pure watlessness i say……………..
So unfortunate, but if this is true, I applaud this man’s courage to stand up and file charges. I am with you in prayers.