Bahamas: Principal denies kissing student
A school principal accused of the indecent assault of a female student testified he did not think it was inappropriate for him to put his hand on the teen’s shoulder.
Pastor Thomas Nottage, the principal of Grace Christian School of Excellence, is on trial before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt for indecent assault.
Prosecutors allege that Nottage called the 13-year-old into his office as she waited to be picked up on January 29, 2020, and told her that he loved her before he forcibly kissed her.
Defence lawyer Keith Seymour suggested to the student that she made the false claim to get back at Nottage for spanking her for being disrespectful – a claim the complainant denied.
During his testimony, Nottage categorically denied kissing the student; however, he admitted calling her into the school while outside waiting for her ride.
According to Nottage, he wanted to speak to the student because he overheard her say “something” about the administration to her friends before they started to laugh.
He also admitted that he was alone with the student when the interaction occurred.
Prosecuting attorney Inspector Samantha Miah asked, “Mr Nottage, do you accept that as a principle that it was inappropriate for you to place your hand on [name omitted].”
He replied,” No, I do not.”
Miah suggested that Nottage didn’t have a “good reason” to call the girl into the office because he admitted he didn’t know exactly what she had said.
Nottage replied that he pulled the student in to “address her comments and her attitude”.
When Miah reminded Nottage that he had previously testified that he wasn’t sure what the complainant had said, he claimed that he had questioned her about the nature of her comments.
Nottage replied, “I don’t recall.”
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