The hearings into the alleged abuse of Cuban detainees by Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) marines at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre may be completed by the end of the week, the marines' attorney Wayne Munroe said yesterday.
The hearings resumed last week and are scheduled to continue tomorrow, Thursday and Friday he said.
"We might actually be finished this week," he said.
"The only thing that may delay it that I can think of is the two (former) detainees who are in Cuba. If we can get them up here for this week, or if we cannot get them here, I don't know if we are going to arrange to go down there."
Munroe previously said he wanted the alleged victims to testify.
So far, 12 people, including Carlos Pupo, who alleges to have been beaten, have testified.
Several RBDF officers and marines, immigration officers and a doctor have also testified, Munroe said.
"We had Carlos Pupo on the stand on Thursday and he said he was beaten from 3 a.m. to sunrise," Munroe said.
"He gave some description of some beating that isn't consistent with what anybody says."
Pupo is being held at Her Majesty's Prisons, according to Munroe.
Munroe represents five marines accused of abusing the detainees after some of them attempted to escape from the facility.
Munroe said his clients deny the allegation.
He said the marines could face stoppages of pay, a reduction in rank or other disciplinary actions that would be placed on their record.
The allegations touched off a firestorm of controversy and protests from a group of Miami-based Cuban advocates who labeled the incident an abuse of power.
An RBDF officer, who is also a lawyer, is prosecuting the matter.
Munroe said his clients would take the stand to give their account of what happened.
"Curiously, their account is in line with what the immigration officers say and in line with what the injuries on these people say," he said.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian