The Public Ministry in La Altagracia said it would appeal the order of the Judicial Office of Permanent Attention Services of La Altagracia (Oficina Judicial de Servicios de Atención Permanente de La Altagracia) that allowed Barbados citizen 28-year old Qwamme Lee Archer and his US spouse 22-year old Brianna Alexandra Richardson to post a bail of RD$50,000. The charges are sexual assault, attempted murder, violence against women and robbery.
The judge also ordered legal impediment to those accused from leaving the country without the due judicial authorization and periodic presentation to the Public Ministry for six months.
The couple is accused of having raped and thrown US citizen 51-year old Ashley Rachel Caban from a second floor balcony of a hotel room. Caban was hospitalized with several injuries.
Pre-trial custody had been requested by state prosecutors in the case. But the judge allowed the lesser coercive measures, arguing that the victim did not attend the hearing. The victim’s attorney argued the couple never should have been released on bail, based on the evidence and is fighting to get the order reversed.
The tourists were at the same resort, Ocean Blue in Punta Cana.
Read more:
Listin Diario
Fuego a la Lata
ABC 7 NY
11 July 2019