NASSAU, BAHAMAS - 38-year-old Kevano Knowles, is facing a rape charge following the alleged assault of a 26-year-old woman.

The incident reportedly occurred on April 11th. Knowles appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans, where he was not required to enter a plea.

Bail was denied.

The case has been adjourned to August 13 for the presentation of a voluntary bill of indictment, which will fast track the matter to the supreme court.

A senior police officer is set to be brought before the Magistrate’s Court today, facing a murder charge stemming from the fatal shooting of American Pike employee Cody Castillo a case that has gripped the public and ignited fierce debate.

Authorities say the charge is tied to the police‑involved shooting that unfolded on the night of March 21 near West Bay Street, a confrontation that ended with 31‑year‑old Castillo lying mortally wounded outside Da Plantation Bar & Grill.

Police maintain the incident followed an altercation. But Castillo’s loved ones reject that narrative outright, insisting he was simply there to collect family members when the situation spiraled into tragedy. Their calls for justice have only intensified as the officer prepares to face the court.

POLICE superintendent Berniel Pinder, is the alleged officer being charged in connection with the fatal shooting of American Pike Corporation worker Cody Castillo.

UPDATE - A 51 year old policeman, Berniel Pinder has been charged with murder for the off-duty shooting of American Cody Castillo.

Sam Bankman-Fried will have his appeal against a 25-year prison sentence heard in November, nearly two years after his conviction for fraud and conspiracy tied to the collapse of FTX, the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange that was once headquartered in The Bahamas.

The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals has scheduled the hearing for the week of November 3, 2025. Bankman-Fried's legal team argues that his original trial was flawed, citing procedural missteps, judicial bias, and the exclusion of evidence that they claim could have influenced the verdict.

The appeal could result in a reduced sentence or a new trial, and its outcome may affect ongoing bankruptcy proceedings and creditor claims linked to FTX's failure. Legal analysts also say the case could set an important precedent for how courts handle complex crypto-related fraud.

Bankman-Fried was convicted in November 2023 on seven counts including wire fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. His exchange, once hailed as a symbol of fintech innovation, abruptly collapsed in 2022, prompting legal and regulatory fallout in both the United States and The Bahamas.

June 30th 2025, Nassau, Bahamas, I write this not out of anger, but from a place of deep disappointment and unrelenting emotional fatigue. For over two and a half years, I have been waiting for a ruling on a wrongful dismissal case filed before the Bahamas Industrial Tribunal. And yet, after all this time—after hearings were completed, testimony was submitted, and questions were answered—there is still no resolution.

The last official court hearing in this matter took place in August 2024. Since then, I have reached out to the Tribunal on multiple occasions—through emails, in-person visits, and follow-ups—imploring them for an update or at the very least, an acknowledgment of my constitutional right to a fair and timely judgment.

I have also appealed to the Chief Justice, whose office confirmed correspondence with the Tribunal. Still, the silence from the judicial body that holds my future in its hands continues. There has been no explanation, no ruling, and no closure. On one occasion, Tribunal staff informed me that they do not know when I can expect a ruling, as they themselves had reached out to the presiding judge numerous times—only to now be waiting on the judge’s decision just like I am.

To make matters worse, in June 2025, I received a summons from an officer of the Tribunal ordering me to appear in court on July 28th and 29th of this year. Though confused, I prepared myself mentally and emotionally once more—only to receive a phone call about two weeks later from a Tribunal representative informing me that the summons was issued in error and that I was not required to appear and that I would have to continue to wait until the judge makes a ruling.

I humbly requested an official email acknowledgement confirming this update. When no such communication was sent, I respectfully followed up in writing. To date, I have still received no formal confirmation.

In my original hearing, the Human Resources representative from the opposing side openly admitted that my termination was based solely on hearsay. This fact, paired with the troubling length of the case, should have merited swift justice—not prolonged silence. But instead, I’ve been left in a legal limbo: jobless, emotionally burdened, and denied the constitutional promise of a “fair hearing within a reasonable time” as outlined under Article 20(8) of the Bahamian Constitution.

This is not just about me. This is about every Bahamian who believes in the rule of law and the right to due process. This is about the working-class citizen who cannot afford to wait endlessly for decisions that affect their family, their livelihood, and their dignity.

I am grateful for being allowed to bring attention to what I truly believe is a matter of public interest and national conscience. My story is not shared for pity, but for reform. Justice delayed is more than an inconvenience—it is a quiet erosion of trust in the very institutions meant to protect us.

I welcome any verification process required. The facts of my case are documented and provable. And I remain hopeful—not just for my own ruling—but for a broader conversation about the cost of judicial delay on ordinary Bahamians.

Let us begin that conversation, together.

Dwight L. Williams
Nassau, Bahamas

Tribunal Case Number: NP2023-035