The Virginian-Pilot
©
MANTEO, N.C.
Volcanic ash-related flight cancellations in Europe forced Jamaican reggae star Eek-A-Mouse to miss his scheduled trial in Dare County this week on rape and kidnapping charges, but that didn't stop a warrant being issued for his arrest.
The musician, whose real name is Ripton Joseph Hylton, was in Amsterdam and could not fly to the United States, said Phillip Hayes, his Kitty Hawk attorney.
Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett issued an order Monday for Hylton's arrest for failure to appear at the designated time.
"It was difficult for me to understand why the judge thought this was willful," Hayes said after his motion to continue the case for 60 days was denied.
Hylton, 52, was charged in August 2008 with first-degree kidnapping, second-degree rape and possession of cocaine, all felonies, stemming from an incident in Kill Devil Hills.
Police reported that a 23-year-old woman said she was held against her will by the performer at an Outer Banks motel. Hylton denies the charges.
Hayes said the U.S. State Department had recently agreed to re-issue Hylton's visa, which had been unexpectedly revoked about a week before. Meanwhile, the singer's scheduled flight from Heathrow Airport in London to Raleigh-Durham was canceled and most air traffic in Europe was suspended.
The case will not be rescheduled until Hylton is served with the arrest warrant, Hayes said.
Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com
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He did cancel his show that
He did cancel his show that was supposed to be held last saturday at the oceanfront. I do not think that he would miss that show just because. The judge is not thinking too well in this case. I see an agenda also. Try to make an example of him. If you look at the evidence in this case, they do not have alot on him. The girl accusing him stayed all night and then left on her own will in the morning. Just sayin.
Regardless. . .
This ole' piece of garbage Ripton, will eventually (hopefully) rot in a jail somewhere. Too many losers like him sucking up air.
Innocent until proven
Innocent until proven guilty??
Welcome to Mayberry
Judge Tillet needs to get a clue. No one is getting in or out or Europe due to this act of God! Did the Judge think that the defendant was going to swim across the Atlantic so that he could make court?
I have seen so many judges grant continuances for far more retarded reasons, why not grant one in this instance since there is a valid reason for not making court. Isn't the defendant free on a bond? This sure looks like a white judge from a small southern town coming down on the big bad black man from another country.
By the way, I'm white and over the age of 45 but I call them as they appear.
Eek-a-Rapist?
Would you bet your life that he is guilty? He could very well be guilty. Has there been some kind of evidence obtained that indicates guilt? This is the first I've heard of this rape accusation. It seems like some are convinced he is guilty. I am I missing something? Should we not give him his day in court? The problem with this court of public opinion is that if he is found innocent in an actual court of law, he will still be a rapist in the back of most people's minds like that dude Fatty Arbuckle years ago. I'm just saying pump the brakes a little and give the authorities time to do what they do and figure out what actually happened. This guy has been around a long time and I've never heard anything bad about this guy, that doesn't make him innocent but it seems to me he would have been accused of sexual assault of some kind in the past. I don't think most rapists wait until they are in their 50's to start acting on whatever impulse it is that makes people rape. If he is indeed guilty, prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.
With the seriousness of the
With the seriousness of the charges EEK-a-Dink should never have been allowed to leave the country to ensure his presence at the trial...that's where the justice system made a mistake.
If it walks...
...like a duck. Somethings missing here, the Judge has an agenda.
Then again, it is refreshing to see this case being tried in criminal court vs. civil with the nature of the defendents celebrity status...
Just maybe
Hey, Maybe the judge thinks the whole 'stuck in Europe' excuse is a bunch of bull and just something the guy picked off the nightly news to cover for him. I mean he is accused of RAPE and now he is in another country? Was he granted permission for that? I didn't think you could leave the country with a rape trail pending but I am sure someone will enlighten me! Just seems fishy in the first place!
can't leave the state
The norm is that you can't leave the state when you are out on bond unless you have the judge's permission. Roman Polanski plead guilty to sex charges in California, fled to Europe and has been on the loose for decades. It is hard to imagine that any judge would let eek leave the country, let alone the state with rape and kidnapping charges pending. Now, the bond will be kept by the court and Eek may have to stay out of the country just like Polanski.