A well-known Grand Bahama resident is set to stand trial over accusations that his unleashed dogs attacked and mauled a woman walking along a luxury Freeport residential beach earlier this year, a case that comes as Bahamian authorities ramp up enforcement of long-overlooked animal control laws following a string of deadly and life-threatening attacks across the archipelago.
Sixty-two-year-old David Jennette Jr. faces three charges: negligently causing bodily harm, failing to properly secure domestic animals, and allowing unrestrained animals to roam public areas, in connection with the April 22 incident on Coral Beach that targeted Angelika Christie. Prosecutors contend the two dogs that carried out the attack are owned by Jennette.
When the case opened Wednesday before Grand Bahama Magistrate Uel Johnson, the scheduled start of the trial did not move forward as planned. Jennette’s legal representation, attorney Jerome Roberts, told the court his team had not received full disclosure of key evidence: Christie’s complete medical records from attending physician Dr. Camille Bowen, including detailed documentation of patient interactions and the full extent of her injuries.
Roberts told the court he requires the full unredacted report from Dr. Bowen to properly prepare his client’s defense, not just a summary of the injuries Christie sustained. Prosecutor Kenton Smith confirmed Dr. Bowen is listed as a prosecution witness and stated the state is prepared to facilitate the release of the requested documentation. Magistrate Johnson granted the adjournment request, rescheduling the continuation of the trial for December 7 and 8.
Both Angelika Christie and her husband Brenford Christie, a prominent Freeport-based attorney, were present in the courtroom for Wednesday’s preliminary hearing. Jennette was first arraigned on the charges on May 22, and was released from custody ahead of trial after posting $2,000 bail with a required surety.
This high-profile case unfolds against a backdrop of growing public and governmental urgency around dangerous dog regulation in The Bahamas. After multiple high-severity attacks across the country this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources launched Mission Pawsible, a nationwide compliance initiative that includes a 30-day amnesty running through September. During this grace period, dog owners are encouraged to bring their animals into full compliance with existing laws – including mandatory licensing, proper vaccination, secure containment, and official identification – without facing fines or citations.
Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Jomo Campbell has emphasized that the amnesty is not a permanent reprieve for non-compliant owners, and formal citations and penalties will go into effect immediately after the amnesty period ends. The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Royal Bahamas Police Force to ensure consistent enforcement across all islands.
The government’s decision to adopt a stricter, prevention-focused approach to animal control came after a string of high-profile attacks that shocked the nation and drew international attention. In June, 66-year-old Kemp Road resident Don Smith was mauled by unrestrained dogs, followed by a July attack on 70-year-old Jackie Livingston Thompson. Most notably, nine-year-old American tourist Beau Brattain suffered life-threatening injuries during an attack by multiple dogs on Bimini on July 28, an incident that made headlines around the world.
In that Bimini case, 34-year-old Harrington Rolle pleaded guilty to charges including negligently causing grievous bodily harm and allowing a dangerous dog to roam at large, and was subsequently sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Pearline Jones, head of the Bahamian Animal Control Unit, recently revealed that dog attack complaints are the most frequent calls the unit receives, with an average of three to four reports filed every day – and sometimes even more during peak periods. Minister Campbell has framed the new policy as a fundamental shift: instead of only responding to attacks after people are injured, the government will prioritize proactive prevention through broader compliance and stricter enforcement of existing animal control laws.