Marc Bean, the Leader of the Opposition, appeared in Magistrates’ Court yesterday to deny a charge of using offensive language.

The charge is reportedly linked to an incident between Mr Bean and Toni Daniels, a former One Bermuda Alliance senator, outside of a Sandys polling station on November 6, 2014. According to the charge, Mr Bean called Ms Daniels a “f***ing political whore”. He is alleged to have added: “She’s a ten cent whore. I will pass her around and everyone will have a ten cent lick.”

Mr Bean’s lawyer, Simone Smith-Bean, said that the Crown was being used as a “political tool” of the Bermuda Government, labelling the proceedings a “farce”.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Cindy Clarke, however, said questions being raised by Ms Smith-Bean should be left for the trier of fact, while magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said allegations of an officer of the court being used for a political purpose should be taken elsewhere.

Mr Tokunbo released Mr Bean on $5,000 bail and ordered the Crown to provide further written particulars of the offence to both Ms Smith-Bean and the court when the matter returns on July 3 to be mentioned.

Several Progressive Labour Party figures appeared in court in a show of solidarity, including Deputy Leader David Burt, Wayne Furbert, Diallo Rabain, Walter Roban, Zane DeSilva and Marc Daniels.

• It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding criminal court cases. This is to prevent any statements being published that may jeopardise the outcome of that case.