Suspect and complainant missing on eve of trial

(CNS): A Canadian national who is accused of assault in connection with a domestic dispute has left the jurisdiction the court heard Friday, along with his wife who is the complainant. Ryan Batemen, who worked in the offshore financial offshore sector as a director in his own company  was due to stand trial in the Grand Court on Tuesday for assaulting his wife. However, Amelia Fosuhene, his defence attorney, made an application before Justice Quin during the weekly mention list to come off record after she said she believed the defendant would not appear. Fosuhene said she was aware that he had left Cayman with his family.

Given the circumstances the judge granted the application and issued a bench warrant for Bateman who is understood to have missed an earlier mention date before the court. Recognising the likely futility, nevertheless the crown prosecutor, Nicole Petite, asked for the warrant to be stayed until Tuesday just in case Batemen and his wife, who is the alleged victim in the case, and the prinicple witness on which the crown will be relying, did appear.