Remember Richard Russell? He’s the man that was almost killed in broad daylight on October 23rd when a gunman started chasing him in a much trafficked area on Central American Boulevard at just minutes to noon. Well, Russell is in the news again tonight. The 27 year old is now accused of abducting and raping a 16 year old girl.
The high school student told police that around 6 in the evening on September 5th she was walking on Freetown Road when Russell approached her and pulled her into a vehicle. She claims he took her to a house on Antelope Street where he allegedly raped her.
If you are wondering why Russell was charged today for a rape that allegedly occurred two months ago, well Russell says he was initially detained but not charged for rape. Instead he was charged for robbery. Today however he was charged for rape. The prosecutor asked that bail be denied because of the age of the complainant and also because Russell might interfere with witnesses. Russell begged to be released on bail because he said he fears for his safety at the Hattieville Prison. Chief Magistrate Margaret McKenzie wasn’t convinced and remanded Russell.
Before being hauled off to prison, in his defense, Russell told our court reporter that he is being set up by his enemies because he doesn’t even know the girl and more than that, he was recovering from a previous gunshot injury when the rape is alleged to have occurred.
