NASSAU, Bahamas—The Bahamian High Court has mandated that the government pay $2 million to Matthew Sewell, a 36-year-old Jamaican who endured nearly a decade of wrongful imprisonment. Sewell was originally detained at the age of 18 in June 2006, shortly after arriving in The Bahamas to visit his father. He was falsely accused of raping a minor and spent two years on remand before being granted bail in 2008. Despite being released, he was re-arrested in 2009 on another rape charge and remained in prison until 2013 when both rape charges were dismissed.
In 2013, Sewell faced new accusations of murder and housebreaking. The murder charge was immediately dropped as it was established that Sewell was incarcerated at the time of the crime. He pled not guilty to housebreaking but remained in prison until this charge was dismissed in March 2014. Despite being issued two discharge certificates, he was arrested again a month later and sent to the Carmichael Road Detention Centre. A writ of habeas corpus secured his release in October 2015.
Sewell’s time in prison was marked by extreme hardship. He testified to being raped, beaten, bitten by rats, and forced to share a small cell with other inmates, defecating in a bucket or bread bag. He was subjected to violence from police, prison officers, and other prisoners. These experiences left him with severe physical and psychological trauma, including multiple facial fractures, permanent scarring, and conditions like schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Supreme Court, in its ruling, highlighted the government’s failure to adequately defend its actions, noting that the authorities did not comply with court directions and failed to provide witness statements. Justice Ruth Bowe-Darville condemned the behavior of the authorities as “reprehensible” and emphasized the need to send a strong message through the damages awarded to Sewell.
Sewell was awarded the following amounts:
– $173,970 for special damages
– $594,666.66 for false imprisonment and assault and battery
– $378,000 for future care
– $144,881.72 for psychiatric and psychological damages
– $250,000 for malicious prosecution
– $250,000 for exemplary damages
– $100,000 for aggravated damages
– $120,000 for vindicatory and compensatory damages
In total, Sewell was awarded $2,011,578.38.
Sewell’s lawyer, Fred Smith, QC, described the ruling as a significant victory for human rights and a stark reminder of the systemic issues within Bahamian law enforcement and judicial practices. This case not only compensates Sewell for his suffering but also serves as a critical commentary on the need for reform in the treatment of detainees and the handling of legal processes in The Bahamas.
