BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE appeal against conviction in the matter of Jermaul Jules which was to have been heard this week, was adjourned to the next sitting of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Appeal in June, 2014.
Jules, who was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison for robbing a British tourist couple at Rawlins Plantation Inn on January 14, 2009, was unable to proceed with his case yesterday (Feb. 10) when it was called for hearing.
He was convicted by a 12-member jury on March 3, 2011.
An unrepresented Jules told the Court yesterday that he "cannot afford a lawyer" and he "never tried to get one".
He also said he had only received his transcript moments before the Court had begun, yet another reason why he was unable to proceed.
Chief Justice Janice Pereira said: "Given the circumstances and in fairness to you, having not received your transcript until now, and given that you are representing yourself and you said you are not in a position to proceed, the matter will be adjourned."
Before the official adjournment, Director of Public Prosecutions Travers Sinanan served Jules with submissions for which he would have to respond at the next local Appeal sitting.
He noted that there may be further submissions made and was ordered by the Chief Justice to have such documents served no later than March 10, 2014.
Jules was advised by the Justices of Appeal to seek legal representations while preparing for his matter to be heard.
Evidence presented at trial at the Basseterre High Court suggests 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 the aid of 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 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 before entering the building. And having returned to the outside, he was nabbed by police officers. 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.
It is expected that the matter would be disposed of during the June 2014 sitting of the Appellate Court.
