BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - ALLISTER FORDE was scheduled to appeal his 15-year sentence yesterday (Feb. 10) at the local sitting of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Appeal, but his matter was adjourned as he was not equipped to proceed with the case.
Forde was convicted on September 26, 2011 by a 12-member jury of a December 21, 2010 incident of shooting at Troy McDonald while at 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 which he used to fire 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 the appeal hearing, Forde told the Court that he had not received his transcript and that he sought the assistance of a number of relatives to get him legal representation for the matter.
He said he was unable to contact said family members due to a "cell lockdown" at Her Majesty’s Prison which he was a part of and because of that issue, he was unaware of which member of the family was in possession of his transcript and what the status of the search for Counsel was.
Attorney Hesketh Benjamin rose to inform the Court that some family members of Forde had spoken to him at his office regarding the matter but the discussion did not go far as an issue concerning a document - that could not be located - arose and the family members were supposed to locate it.
An adjournment was granted "for the appellant to make adequate preparations for the conduct of his appeal".
The matter is expected to be heard at the sitting of the next Court of Appeal in June, 2014.
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