NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Lithera Bethel, 32, was shot multiple times early Sunday morning during an alleged altercation with an ex-boyfriend, according to her sister who spoke with Eyewitness News on Monday.
The young woman said her sister constantly lived in fear for her life, after filing multiple police reports and getting little to no help.
“She had a case on him because he previously gun-butted her and she really wanted to leave the relationship, but he would not take no for an answer, he would leave and come back and it got more violent,” she claimed.
“She just wanted to call it quits and give up. She went to the police and had him locked up but someone posted bail for him and he came back to the house.”
She also said she believed her sister was constantly manipulated by the alleged attacker, who she shared three children with.
“He has a pending case now and she hasn’t gotten any protection from police,” the sister said.
“He would manipulate her to withdraw the case but she wouldn’t do it the last time, the police said she couldn’t anyway.”
Early Sunday morning, police said they were called to a home off Cowpen Road after gunshots were heard. Police said a man had an altercation with his girlfriend which resulted in him shooting her and three others.
They were listed in serious but stable condition.
Meanwhile, Prodesta Moore, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Bahamas Urban Development Center said stories like these are too frequent in The Bahamas.
“The police should be that place where we go and file a report and be safe and find a resolution, but in most cases that is not what is happening,” Moore said.
“The courts don’t seem like much help either. We have to ensure that there are laws in place to protect families.”
As it relates to protection orders for abuse victims, Moore said most abuse victims feel that it’s just a piece of paper with no real affect.
“We have some property cited too but a shelter. We need a maximum and minimum security place,” she said.
“It’s not a prison but we need to make sure these women are protected from these individuals. You have no right to anyone, whether you had a relationship or not. You are not entitled to anything or anyone. You cannot call yourself a man and out here abusing women. You are not a man, you are a coward.”
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