UPP Defends Sherfield Bowen Amid Criticism Over His Legal History

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Opposition Leader Jamal Pringle

Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle has defended the candidacy of Sherfield Bowen whose conviction for murder was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2007.

“What we continuously do in Antigua and Barbuda, I think you are held responsible for things which have been basically rectified within the courts. So, then I cannot hold something against you that the court didn’t find you guilty of based on the situation,” The Daily Observer reported.

Bowen won the St Phillip’s South primary to contest the next general election on a UPP ticket.

In 2003, Bowen, a lawyer by profession, was charged with the murder of Tessa Barthley. Two years later, the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction and ruled that the director of public prosecutions could re-indict and redo the trial since the matter is indictable. Bowen walked free on June 21 2007.

Pringle said the UPP will remain focus and will not be distracted.

“Let us not focus on any one individual but let us focus on the state of Antigua and Barbuda and its economy. Just as how you tend to hold the United Progressive Party accountable forits actions, let us hold the government that was elected overwhelmingly for its actions.

“It’s not my job only, it’s for Antigua and Barbuda to hold them accountable. We cannot have the distractions of who I think should run because what you are going to do, they are going to help you to take the focus off of them by doing different things so that they get a leg up and the wrongdoings remain in the background,” Pringle said yesterday on the Observer AM show.

Bowen

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37 COMMENTS

  1. Pringle didn’t say “… Didn’t find…” He said “…. Didn’t FOUND…” As part of his poor grammatical expressions!

  2. I thought that it was understood that anything that comes out of the mouth of this unschooled political neophyte, famous-by-default Pringle was to be handled in two ways: ignore and excuse. The fact remains that he DID KILL a young woman and was found guilty by a jury. After serving some time in jail, his sentence was overturned ON A TECHNICALITY. The court was advised that the charges could be relaid against him. This was during the previous administration (UPP) which, for reasons best known to them, CHOSE NOT TO RETRY HIM. The stark reality is however that he killed a young woman and no matter what this little bwoy has been wired to say, HE is a killer! He took it upon himself to snuff out the life of a young woman, somebody’s daughter, grand daughter, niece, cousin, friend. There’s no defending the indefensible. He will always have her blood on his hands. And let the people all say “AMEN”!!

    • Anon the 1st my comment below to From The Sideline is also relevant to you so please read. However, I would wish to add for your information that there is such a thing as an accident and that is what the unfortunate incident with Bowen and Miss Barthley was, an accident. Bowen did not wake up on the unfortunate day in question and said to himself I am going to kill Miss Barthley. This matter now is a major concern to most of you not from any moral or ethical perspective, but rather from the perspective that the candidacy of Bowen is a serious threat to the ABLP.

  3. Pringle again missed the point. The legal court may not have found him guilty, but there is a court of public opinion. And he got off based on a legal technicality. And the DPP had the option to trial him again for manslaughter instead of murder. But that’s how things go in this country.

    • From The Sideline Bowen is not debarred from running in a general elections. Why is the ABLP so concerned about his candidacy? The answer to that question certainly could not be grounded in moral or ethical principles of the ABLP. Since he is not debarred from participating in the next general elections, I would just advise you to relax and let the electorate as the court of public opinion decide. I would surmise though, that the ABLP is morbidly fearful of the candidacy of Bowen because he is such a formidable candidate in St. Phillip’s South. Don’t you agree?

      • Here is a question for you lawyer man Charles Tabor why in the world would you go and confront your ex- girlfriend who has been stalking you with a loaded gun that was on cock? If she is such a problem to you why not call the police to remove her from the building? No matter what the court of law say in the court of public opition the blood of Miss Bartley will always be on Mr Bowens hands. It is a rwal pity the family never filed a wrongful death lawsuit on him. You damn lawyers and politicians will always cover for one another. One special place there in hell for all of you.

        • @ JB
          Totally in agreement with you. Charles Tabor will defend anything and Anyone against ABLP. Sometimes I wonder what type of LAWYER is CHARLES TABOR . Has He ever won a CASE??? I heard He is REPRESENTING Vere Bird 111 against the Prime Minister. He will definitely lose this case. If My memory served me correctly Charles Tabor was involved in a MOTOR vehicle accident with a young Person and the case was thrown out of COURT ????? So I am not surprised why He would DEFEND BOWEN !!!!!

        • JB you are confusing me here. First you said that Bowen went and confront his ex-girlfriend then you said that he should have called the police to remove her from his office. It would appear then that it was the ex-girlfriend who went to confront Bowen. Anyway, irrespective of who confronted whom, it was simply an unfortunate accident and there is no evidence that Bowen intentionally killed Miss Barthley.

          • There is no evidence he intentionally killed her? You mean other than the fact that he intentionally took his loaded gun, pointed it at her, shot and killed her?

            Do tell us who are less learned, what exactly was his intention when he consciously shot her?

            Do you even have a conscience as you write this nonsense? Is your political agenda so blinding that it has removed your heart’s ability to function as a human should?

  4. Pringle just brought down any hope of being re-elected personally, and established the certainty that Red Labour will win every seat in the next election. This doesn’t sound like Pringle. Somebody (?) must have put him up this. Pringle has a better head than that.

  5. Jamale Pringle is a DISGRACE to ANTIGUA and BARBUDA ..Also the Caribbean Political Arena. He should stop talking on Radio. Jamale Pringle said on Observer Radio that Antigua UNEMPLOYMENT is 80%. This Guy is Crazy. Jamale does NOT have a clue. DISGRACE.

  6. The One Single Pringle can represent the country in the international arena. I’m sure he’d make the people proud with his excellent level of reasoning and presentation skills.

  7. The thing is sadly a young lady lost her life….

    And the UPP is aware of the person that caused that young life to be taken.

    Now the same UPP had a problem with MP Benjamin when he was appointed by the PM….(I am not saying MP Benjamin is a pillar of virtue at all). UPP called for a by-election in ST Peter because MP Michael was arrested in the UK and the recording about the watch.

    The HYPOCRISY is blatant. You will first have to get pass the fact that the person you are talking to caused the death of young lady before you can concentrate on anything else. And that the point UPP is missing.

  8. You know if the ABLP put someone like that on their ticket what would UPP be saying? Use your imagination a bit

  9. JAMALE PRINGLE…I do not know what to say about this Guy anymore. He is NOT learning. Jamale Pringle said that the UNEMPLOYMENT rate in Antigua is 80%. This is the most BIZARRE statement from a Parliamentary REPRESENTATIVE. There is no way that this Guy will be RE-elected in my Constituency.

    How the HELL can you defend BOWEN with such a BAGGAGE ? ABLP will deal with BOWEN on the Campaign Trail.

  10. ZIMBA I could not agree with you more. Yes, ABLP will deal with Bowen on the campaign trail, however, after he wins the verdict of the electorate of St. St. Phillips South that all of you (From The Sideline, Bugsy, Melchisedec etc) just shut up and stop talking nonsense.

    • @ CHARLES TABOR

      STOP chatting NON SENSE ….We in ST. Phillips will NEVER vote for BOWEN. Are you aware of the PETTITION to remove BOWEN from The REGISTRY ????? We DO NOT want ANYONE with BLOOD on Their Hands .TABOR…. No DAMN way BOWEN can win in ST. PHILLIPS. Hon. Weston WILL definitely WIN BY A bigger MARGIN IN 2023. TABOR PUBLIC OPINION means NOTHING to YOU Tabor. UPP has scraped the Bottom of the barrel so They do not want another PRIMARY in ST. PHILLIPS.

    • @ Charles Tabor
      To display poor judgement is one thing but to defend it is different level of irresponsibility.

      1 The UPP had enough time to groom and select principled men and women with integrity, heightened morality and strong family values Antigua and Barbuda deserves no less. Flash back 2004.

      2 How old was Mr Bowen when he caused the death of the young lady, and how old was the young lady when Mr Bowen had intimate relations with her?

      3 To win at all cost is a form of blindness that creates a dilemma where the UPP and the ABLP looks like the same party. No difference just conceited, power hungry, greedy, manipulative, cultist.

      4 Mr Charles Tabor understand this perception is everything. The people of this country saw the ABLP as an organized crime syndicate and the UPP as goody goody, soft, wholesome, honest, now with this slate of candidates the lines a blurred.

  11. This is another self-inflected wound by the UPP. Lovell needs to go; the selection of Bowen is a national embarrassment, and the UPP may not survive this.

    • Mr. Byam only time will tell so please relax and don’t get all stressed out like the ABLP and some of their UPP fictitious supporters on this medium. Looks as if the Bowen candidacy is driving them crazy. They should be happy since it means St. Phillip’s South should be an easier win for them.

      • “Constable Rae Charles was a member of the Seventh Day Adventists Church choir. His evidence was that at about 7:30 on the evening of 16th December 2003, he was in the churchyard with other choir members, including Eusi Kingston and Moses Daniel, when he heard what sounded like a firecracker. When he approached his motor car which was parked in the vicinity of Bowen’s office building he saw Bowen sitting on the steps. He also saw a woman lying on the ground. Someone asked Bowen what happened and he replied: “she bite me and I shot she”. Eusi Kingston who arrived on the scene with Constable Charles confirmed this. ” see appeals court transcript CRIMINAL APPEALS NO.4 OF 2005

        Tabor when you have staunch anti ablp people like Byan telling you his own party looks naked, you make a mistake by not listening. Brethren essentially used the young lady and she refused to take no for an answer. However, her end should not have been a bullet. Bowen, a then married and mature man must take most of the responsibility for what happened. I am yet to hear him do so. Brethren abused his office by taking advantage of immature young women. Agreed he was not alone in doing such, but examine the consequences of his actions. Has he compensated the family civilly for his actions? Suppose the ALP was to follow the UPP handbook and get the the family and other interested parties to picket the UPP, crying justice for …? Brethren your party has aided in opening old wounds and will pay the price.

      • Mr. Tabor, what is the point of the UPP if there is no difference with the ALP? Bowen’s prosecution was not political; he’s totally unfit for public office. Convicts and low character smaddy should be left for the ALP. He would fit in nicely with Asot, Benjamin, and Yearwood. UPP supporters don’t want Bowen and neither should the leadership.

  12. This will be the last ELECTION with the UPP name on the BALLOT. The UPP is now SWALLOWED up by the MOVEMENT and FAITHFUL NATIONALS Organizations. CLEON ATHILL and SERPENT have BADPLAYED the MOVEMENTEERS . The MOVEVMENT is the WATCHDOG , NON POLITICAL and for GOOD GOVERNANCE . Some of Us as MOVEMENTEERS were very surprised that These Two HYPOCRITES ( CLEON ATHILL and SERPENT ) without informing the MOVEMENTEERS that They were running for election on the UPP ticket. How the HELL can you say All these and now find your way in the same POLITICAL REALM. This is DOWNRIGHT Hypocritical. As a MOVEMENTEER I feel cheated especially by CLEON ATHIL …SERPENT is a Fellow PATTONIAN I know that He is not TRUSTWORTHY. I am appealing to all ANTIGUANS to REJECT CLEON ATHILL and SERPENT. They have deceived all MOVEMENTEERS. Now the MOVEMENT ORAGANIZATION is FINISHED / DESTROYED.

  13. @tabor
    Contrary to your childish conclusion that the killer is being condemned by me because ABLP supporters are “morbidly fearful” of the killer’s potential at the polls, be advised that speaking for myself and on my own behalf, the killer has disqualified himself by irrefutable facts that will, or at least should haunt him for the rest of his pathetic life. He is a killer. He armed himself and subsequently killed a young woman who, he claimed, was bothering him. Interestingly, the young woman was not herself armed. Whether running on an ABLP or UPP ticket, the character you so strongly support is a coward and a killer. Guess your party values highly those attributes.

  14. Why is the UPP putting this guy out to answer questions for the party? This is like comedy central when he comes on. Imagine, the host asked him how many seats he thinks UPP will win, and he said 4? Did UPP just lose the election? What a dumb answer. Even Tabor with his recitation would be better than this guy. With Bowen and having legal history, this is the pot calling the kettle black. Both candidates (leave out the one that get beat off by spoil votes) have legal history. The party must stop the loser from passing around petition that say the winner must be removed because of his legal history. That is sore loser tactic. She has to remember her legal history too. That is a stupid move. Looks like Bowen was too much a gentleman to use this against her, even if she did not hold back on him.
    Pringle called his seat, Richard Lewis, Marshal and Bowen as the 4 seats that the UPP will win. Anybody notice he did not even name the leader’s seat? Mistake or deliberate? Whether so or not, he was not smart enough to name the leader as one of the seats. UPP must keep him off the talk shows. Doing more harm than good.

  15. @Charles Tabor Sir
    I am not speaking about Mr Bowen from a political point of view I am speaking from a moral point of view. Of course you lawyer man Charles Tabor won’t see it that was from your bias as not only a lwayer but also as a very strong UPP supporter. You are trying to justify Mr Bowen as you see him as a brother in the legal fraternity and a member of the party you openly support. Miss Barthley was a young woman who was cut down in the prime of her youth and it was due to Sherfield Bowen RECKLESSNESS!!! You lawyers are just like police and politicians y’all will go length and breath to cover for one another. I hope both lawyers burn in HELL.

  16. And one more thing Charles Tabor
    How does Miss Cleon Athill a woman who says she is a femminst and she believes in equal rights. Who does she feel to be running a campaign with Sherfield Bowen and his tainted past? I await your answer.

    • JB how does being a feminist and a believer in human rights have anything to do with a political candidate who has been exonerated by the court for a crime? The victim of the crime was female and the perpetrator was male. Just based on this gender categorization, I really cannot see the connection with feminism and human rights. Anyway, I believe your question is one that should more appropriately answered by Dr. Cleon Athill and not me.

  17. JB you are confusing me here. First you said that Bowen went and confront his ex-girlfriend then you said that he should have called the police to remove her from his office. It would appear then that it was the ex-girlfriend who went to confront Bowen. Anyway, irrespective of who confronted whom, it was simply an unfortunate accident and there is no evidence that Bowen intentionally killed Miss Barthley.

    • Charles Tabor you must stop being a damn hyprocrite! Had Sherfield Bowen been given the green light to run on ABLP ticket there is noe doubt that Miss Athill and her femmist pack would be #metoo his butt. Another this is why did Mr Bowen confront his ex-girldfriend who he said was stalking him with a loaded gun on cock? How can Sherfield Bowen have the nerve to comapgin in the same consitituicy where the young lady’s family still live. What is he going to tell them or will he just bypass their house. His about those other “God fearing” canididates? Where are there morals? The UPP is really no better than ABLP they arrtract vagabounds. And all you lwayers are the same y’all will go the length and breath to cover for each other.

  18. One wonders if Pringle read the appeals court judgement?

    “Constable Rae Charles was a member of the Seventh Day Adventists Church choir. His evidence was that at about 7:30 on the evening of 16th December 2003, he was in the churchyard with other choir members, including Eusi Kingston and Moses Daniel, when he heard what sounded like a firecracker. When he approached his motor car which was parked in the vicinity of Bowen’s office building he saw Bowen sitting on the steps. He also saw a woman lying on the ground. Someone asked Bowen what happened and he replied: “she bite me and I shot she”. Eusi Kingston who arrived on the scene with Constable Charles confirmed this. ” see appeals court transcript CRIMINAL APPEALS NO.4 OF 2005”

    The conclusion re re-trial (Pay attention Tabor):

    “The question then is whether the interest of justice and the interest of the community and the family of Ms. Barthley would be effectively served by a retrial. Mr. Bowen has served less than a half of his 5 year sentence. However, he could be released from prison in early July 2008 for good behaviour. He may only be retried for manslaughter and could apply for bail pending a retrial. On the other hand this was a serious incident in which a young woman lost her life. In these circumstances, I think that a retrial would serve the interest of justice and the interest of the public and the family of Ms. Barthley. I would therefore give permission to the prosecution to proceed with a new trial of Mr. Bowen, if the prosecution so decides, on the charge of manslaughter (said (retrial) by Hugh A. Rawlins, agreed by Brian Alleyne, SC, one judge dissented on the retrial issue

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