BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - NO murder or attempted murder cases are scheduled to be heard at the upcoming Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Appeal which is expected to make its next stop in St. Kitts next week (Feb. 10 - 14). But buggery, robbery and gun-related cases are expected to be dealt with during that sitting.
The January 2014 Criminal Assizes at the Basseterre High Court would pause for the week to accommodate the Appeal Court led by Chief Justice Janice Pereira.
Listed on the Appeal docket is the matter of Allister Forde who would be appealing the 15-year sentence he was handed following his 2011 conviction for shooting with intent.
Forde was convicted on September 26, 2011 by a 12-member jury found for a December 21, 2010 incident of shooting at Troy McDonald in Godwin Ghaut.
During the trial, McDonald told the court that he was outside his home picking passion fruits when he saw the accused who asked him who he was looking at.
An argument erupted between the two and Forde disappeared into the Marsham’s home and returned with a firearm, firing two shots at McDonald.
The first shot hit a stone on the ground which hit McDonald on his knee and the second shot hit a shed in the yard.
McDonald then ran inside for cover and called the police and his step-father.
At sentencing, Forde, who was unrepresented, asked His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas for mercy in light of his condition. Forde was unable to walk on his own and claimed that he had over “60 pellets” in his body.
He had asked to be placed on a bond or given a fine so that he would be able to see a professional doctor to receive medical attention.
Jermaul Jules would be appealing his robbery conviction. He was convicted and sentenced by His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas to spend six years in prison for robbing a British tourist couple at Rawlins Plantation Inn on January 14, 2009.
A 12-member jury found Jules guilty on March 3, 2011 after it was proven to the court that he did rob David Rogers and his wife.
Evidence presented at the Basseterre High Court stated that at around midnight on the date of the incident, Jules had entered the room in which Rogers was staying at Rawlins Plantation Inn and, with a machete, threatened him and his wife leaving the couple traumatised. He was successful in robbing them of EC$400 and a BlackBerry Smartphone.
It was also stated in court told that he told the couple he would kill them if they had intentions of reporting the incident to the police.
Rogers was unable to give sufficient description of the perpetrator to the police, but while patrolling in St. Paul’s on January 17, 2009, officers observed Jules outside his home with a bag in his hand.
He was formally arrested and charged on the following day.
The court was told that Jules had placed the bag near the front of his home and went back into the building. On his return, the officers grabbed him and he tried desperately to escape their grasp. However, a search of the bag revealed a cellular phone similar to the one reported stolen from the Rogers.
Jamie Wilkinson and Neil Harvey would also be appealing their separate convictions for wounding with intent.
Also on the Appeal docket are a number of sexual cases including one man who would be appealing his sentence with regards to an unlawful carnal knowledge conviction and another would be appealing his buggery conviction.
