标签： Bahamas

A Bahamian court has sentenced 39-year-old Chris Ferguson to 40 years imprisonment for the horrific rape and murder of 12-year-old Adriel Moxey, a case that has shocked the nation. Ferguson, a painter and car washer from Misty Close, pleaded guilty to charges of murder, unlawful sexual intercourse, and unlawful detention to have sexual intercourse before Justice Guillimina Archer-Minns.

The court heard how Ferguson systematically followed the child along a bush path on November 18, 2024, falsely claiming to be a local resident before luring her into vegetation where he committed sexual assault and ultimately strangled her with a belt. In a disturbing twist, he returned the following day to relocate the body. The victim’s remains were discovered two days later near Faith Avenue after an extensive island-wide search, with police reports confirming death by strangulation.

Outside the courtroom, Sasha Moxey, the victim’s mother, expressed mixed emotions regarding the sentencing. While acknowledging the pain of hearing graphic details of her daughter’s final moments—so severe that her partner had to exit the courtroom—she accepted the 40-year term as part of a judicial agreement, though she believed life imprisonment would have been more appropriate.

The proceedings revealed Ferguson’s written apology to the family, in which he stated: ‘I took away an innocent life and I know I must pay for my wrongdoing.’ His defense counsel, David Cash, highlighted Ferguson’s remorse and requested continued psychological counseling and enrollment in a prison fellowship program, noting his client’s solitary confinement and need for mental health evaluation.

Justice Archer-Minns characterized the crimes as ‘heinous and callous,’ emphasizing that the child ‘did not deserve to die the way she did.’ The court agreed to forward defense submissions regarding prison conditions to the prison commissioner.

Ms. Moxey revealed that Ferguson’s knowledge of her daughter’s bag location convinced her of his guilt as the last person to see Adriel alive. She described the ongoing impact on the victim’s siblings, particularly the eldest, and asked the public to remember her daughter as ‘beautiful and full of life.’ While acknowledging the sentence brought some closure, she noted the healing process would require considerable time. The case was prosecuted by Eucal Bonaby.

A devastating workplace accident at Airport Industrial Park has claimed the life of 49-year-old Kirk Young, a mechanical engineer and devoted father of three. The tragedy occurred yesterday morning when a forklift Young was servicing catastrophically collapsed on him after a jack failure, crushing him beneath the massive industrial equipment.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after 11am following alerts to local police, but medical personnel confirmed no signs of life upon their arrival. The incident is currently under investigation by authorities.

The heartbreaking loss comes just days after Young celebrated Super Bowl Sunday with an extended family gathering, where relatives describe him as being in high spirits and perfect health. His sister, Jody Young, expressed profound shock at the sudden tragedy, recalling their final conversation about healthy eating and family bonding during the weekend celebration.

Adding to the family’s anguish, Young’s 21-year-old son was working alongside his father at the time of the fatal accident and witnessed the horrific incident, leaving him traumatized by his inability to prevent the tragedy. The young man was described as sobbing uncontrollably in the aftermath.

Young leaves behind three children—a 25-year-old daughter, the 21-year-old son present at the accident, and a 17-year-old daughter preparing to graduate this year. His wife was reportedly distraught, immediately requesting to see her husband despite the emotional turmoil.

Family members remembered Young as an exceptionally devoted father and brother who maintained strong involvement in family affairs. He shared a particular bond with his sister through their mutual passion for dog breeding and showed special attention to his nephew with autism during their final gathering. The family now awaits formal identification procedures while grappling with the sudden void left by a man described as ‘the best father and brother one could find.’

A plainclothes police officer fatally shot an unidentified man during a confrontation at the officer’s private residence on St Margaret Road, adjacent to Shirley Street, triggering an immediate internal investigation. The incident occurred shortly before 5pm on Tuesday when authorities received notification of a police-involved shooting at the location.

According to Police Press Liaison Chief Superintendent Sheria King, the officer arrived at his personal residence and encountered an unknown male on his property premises. Preliminary reports indicate an altercation developed between the two individuals, culminating in the officer discharging his service weapon and fatally wounding the male.

Chief Supt King provided crucial clarifications regarding the circumstances, noting that the deceased was confirmed to be on the property grounds but not necessarily inside the residential structure itself. The investigation remains in its preliminary stages, though early evidence suggests the officer and deceased were previously unknown to each other.

Notably, Chief Supt King revealed that a relative was present inside the residence during the altercation, adding complexity to the ongoing investigation. When questioned about the officer’s professional background, she indicated he had served on the police force ‘for a while,’ though specific details regarding his length of service were not disclosed.

The decision regarding whether the officer will remain on active duty pending investigation outcomes rests with the Commissioner of Police. The coroner has officially attended the scene, and upon completion of police investigations, the case file will be forwarded to the Coroner’s Court for formal inquest proceedings.

A serious allegation of evidence fabrication has emerged against Bahamian drug enforcement officers following a controversial midnight raid in Carmichael. A family member of the arrested individuals has presented video evidence to The Tribune that allegedly shows police officers planting narcotics on the property.

The incident involves a household consisting of a mother, her two adult sons, and one son’s girlfriend. According to the relative, who requested anonymity, DEU officers conducted the operation around midnight Wednesday, initially detaining the two sons before arresting the mother and girlfriend the following morning.

The relative reported that motion-activated security cameras installed on the property captured footage showing officers apparently placing drugs near a vehicle tire during the search. The video, reviewed by The Tribune, shows multiple officers searching the yard with flashlights before one officer is seen dropping a small bag onto the ground. Audio from the recording allegedly includes instructions to ‘plant it good.’

After discovering the footage, the relative retained legal counsel and confronted DEU officials with the evidence. The lawyer reportedly expressed astonishment upon viewing the video. Despite demands for immediate release of the family based on this evidence, authorities maintained the arrests.

The relative attempted to escalate the matter to Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander but was informed that senior officials were unavailable due to promotion-related meetings. Police officials reportedly stated that formal complaints could not be filed while the family remained in custody.

The Bahamas Royal Police Force press liaison officer has acknowledged the inquiry but indicated that an official response would be provided today. The family member described the situation as both stressful and perplexing, noting they could discern no apparent motive for the alleged evidence planting.

The case has raised serious questions about police procedures and evidence handling in drug enforcement operations, with potential implications for police accountability and judicial integrity in The Bahamas.

A newly established non-profit organization led by Bahamian expatriates has announced a significant scholarship initiative aimed at supporting students from The Bahamas pursuing higher education overseas. The Tydal Foundation, co-founded by Tyrone Ferguson and Dale Allen, will award three academic grants totaling $15,000 for the 2026 academic year.

The foundation represents the culmination of years of planning between Ferguson and Allen, both Bahamian natives now residing in Canada, who sought meaningful ways to contribute to their homeland’s development. Their personal professional backgrounds directly influenced the selected fields of study: finance, technology, and arts.

Ferguson, an accounting professional, explained the rationale behind their focus areas: “These three disciplines emerged from our combined expertise and passions. My background in accounting naturally led to including finance, while Dale’s career as a software developer brought technology to the forefront. Our shared appreciation for the arts, influenced by my father’s artistic career and Dale’s participation in art exhibitions, completed the triad.”

The foundation has assembled an impressive board of directors featuring prominent figures in their respective fields: Naro Zimmerman from JTC’s Private Client Services group, technology expert Mark Hammerton, and financial executive Gary Lewis of Commonwealth Brewery Ltd.

Beyond financial support, the Tydal Foundation promises comprehensive development opportunities for scholarship recipients. The program includes structured networking events, career acceleration initiatives, and holistic wellness support encompassing physical fitness and mental health resources.

“Our vision extends beyond monetary assistance,” Ferguson emphasized. “We’re building lifelong partnerships through mentorship and professional development programs designed to cultivate the next generation of Bahamian leaders.”

Prospective applicants must maintain a minimum 3.3 GPA and demonstrate acceptance into a four-year undergraduate program or specialized two-year diploma in the designated fields. The application portal is available through the foundation’s website at www.tydalfoundation.org/apply, with a submission deadline of April 19th.

The Bahamas’ correctional system faces a dual reality of record-breaking incarceration numbers and ongoing rehabilitation efforts, according to statements from government officials and religious leaders. National Security Minister Wayne Munroe revealed that the nation’s prison population has surged to unprecedented levels, housing more than 1,900 inmates currently.

The development comes amid contrasting perspectives on recidivism rates within the correctional system. Assistant Prison Chaplain Angelo Rolle recently announced a decline in repeat offenses, crediting the improvement to rehabilitation initiatives implemented under Prison Commissioner Doan Cleare’s leadership. However, Minister Munroe expressed caution regarding these claims, emphasizing that recidivism statistics vary significantly depending on measurement methodologies.

Minister Munroe explained the complexity of calculating recidivism rates: ‘The percentage fluctuates based on the total number of admissions. For instance, four repeat offenders among eight new admissions represents a 50% recidivism rate, while the same number among 100 admissions shows a considerably lower percentage.’ He advocated for tracking the percentage of previously incarcerated individuals who return to prison as a more meaningful metric, though noting this approach is not currently implemented.

Meanwhile, Chaplain Rolle announced the upcoming bi-annual Pastors, Volunteers and Caregivers Conference scheduled for March 12-14. The event, organized in partnership with the Global Chaplaincy Alliance, will offer accreditation programs enabling participants to serve as prison volunteers or chaplains not only in The Bahamas but also in other countries including the United States and Jamaica. Rolle described this initiative as ‘a history-breaking opportunity for our institution and for the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.’

The contrasting statements highlight the ongoing challenges and efforts within The Bahamas’ correctional system, where record incarceration numbers coincide with ambitious rehabilitation programs aimed at reducing repeat offenses.