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By Alric Lindsay
William Gonzales Bodden, Jr appeared before Justice Carter in the Grand Court today, December 17, 2024, where he pleaded guilty to one count of bigamy contrary to section 150 of the Penal Code.
Regarding the offence, it was explained in the Grand Court that on March 14 2024, at Deerfield Beach, Florida, United States of America, Bodden Jr married a woman during the life of his Cayman wife, whom he had married lawfully on December 12, 2012, at the Westin Resort in Grand Cayman.
Bodden Jr’s attorney, Amelia Fosuhene, indicated to the Grand Court that there may be an application to amend the bail conditions set by a magistrate which described Bodden Jr as a “flight risk”. Fosuhene emphasized that Bodden Jr has strong community ties to the Cayman Islands, implying he is not a flight risk.
Fosuhene added that if Bodden Jr is not permitted to leave the Cayman Islands, his job as an airline pilot with Breeze Airways in the United States will be affected. Fosuhene stressed that he would lose his job if he was not back to take up his duties on December 19 in the United States.
A further hearing is expected in the Grand Court tomorrow, December 18, 2024.
For more details on this case, please see the previous story below:
Notes to readers
Bigamy is an offence under section 150 of the Penal Code. This states:
Bigamy
150. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person who, having a husband, wife or civil partner living, goes through a ceremony of marriage or civil partnership whether within the Islands or elsewhere, which is void by reason of its taking place during the life of such husband, wife or civil partner commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for five years.
(2) This section does not extend to any person (a) whose marriage or civil partnership has been declared void by a court of competent jurisdiction; or (b) who contracts a marriage or civil partnership during the life of a former husband, wife or civil partner if such husband, wife or civil partner, at the time of the subsequent marriage or civil partnership (i) has been continually absent from such person for the period of time as is specified in the Presumption of Death (Anna Evans) Act, 2020 [Law 23 of 2020]; and (ii) has not been heard of by such person as being alive within that time.
