The attorney representing a National Commercial Bank (NCB) executive accused of rape has stressed that the matter must be adjudicated in a court of law and not the court of public opinion.
Dane Nicholson, head of NCB’s fraud prevention division, has been charged with six counts of rape and two counts of grievous sexual assault. The complainant is reportedly a female bank employee, and the alleged incidents are said to have occurred over a year ago at her residence.
King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, who is representing Nicholson, issued a statement on Friday emphasizing that the case serves as a reminder of why certain matters are heard in camera.
“That is to say, restricted in terms of public information and discourse before their final determination,” Champagnie said.
While acknowledging the importance of press freedom, the attorney underscored the equal importance of the accused’s right to due process.
“The presumption of innocence is sacrosanct,” he stated, adding that the situation has been worsened by the publication of Nicholson’s name, photograph, and details of the allegations.
“The privacy of an alleged complainant is of no greater importance than the privacy of an accused presumed to be innocent,” Champagnie argued. “Our courts must be allowed to function unimpeded by any prejudice generated by public spectacle in these circumstances.”
Nicholson was granted bail in the sum of $1.2 million when he appeared in court on September 16. He is scheduled to return to court on November 24.
