Come October 11 celebrated pastor Paul Lewis will know his fate as his carnal abuse and indecent assault trial continues at the Savannah La Mar Resident Magistrate Court in Westmorland, Jamaica.
The case against celebrated pastor Paul Lewis took a dramatic twist in the Savannah La Mar Resident Magistrate Court at the last hearing in September as his lawyers challenged the validity of the forensic evidence that was submitted by the prosecution.
Lewis, who is facing carnal abuse and indecent assault charges, was granted bail in the sum of $300,000 with surety. It is he alleged that the renowned minister of religion sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl.
"Paul Lewis feels that it is nothing short of a travesty of justice that the matter has been sent to the next sitting of the Circuit court” an obviously upset attorney-at-law Keith Bishop representing the pastor revealed following the ruling by judge.
“All of us as defense counsel made no case submissions. It's important to point out that an important element of carnal abuse is penetration, there's no evidence of penetration and the judge still commits the matter to Circuit” Bishop charged.
The United States-based pastor, who has a massive following both locally and overseas through his The Messengers For Christ Ministries World Healing Centre ministry looked very dejected during recess. A teary eyed and remorseful looking pastor Lewis sought comfort from a friend who came to support him at his trial.
The lawyer further argued that why the defense believes the matter should be thrown out is that the complaint retracted the statement of indecent assault, something attorney-at-law Bishop was not taken into consideration by the judge.
“We were denied statements from the forensic expert and we do not know to what extend the judge might have relied on those forensic evidence to determine whether or not this case should go forward. We believe that what has gone forward is an extremely weak case and we are appalled and disappointed that the matter has been committed to trial” Bishop said in light of the turn in events.
Allegations against the pastor are that in June, he met the 15-year-old at a convention in Little London, Westmoreland, where he was a guest preacher. He reportedly exchanged telephone numbers with the girl and, in a subsequent meeting, took her and a 14-year-old female companion with him on a trip to Clarendon. On their return to Westmoreland, the girls stayed with him at his Negril hotel. It was during that night that the alleged sexual encounter took place as her companion watched.
Persons became suspicious when they saw the pastor with the girls and alerted the police. Lewis was subsequently arrested and charged based on statements from the girls.
