BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE matter involving Attorney-at-Law Geoffrey Romany, who was expected to stand trial at the April 2014 Criminal Assizes in Nevis at the Charlestown High Court, was adjourned to the November sitting.
Romany is charged with two counts of fraudulent conversion and money laundering.
It is alleged that sometime between September 1, 2010 and September 20, 2011 at Charlestown, he received US$25 000 belonging to Roger Tosse which he exploited for his personal use.
It is also alleged that between April 2, 2008 and April 10, 2012 at Charlestown, having received US$161 598 belonging to Vector Gardner, he took the money for his personal use.
His matter was set to be tried since April 2013 and he has been a guest at Her Majesty's Prison for the past three years.
At the opening of the Assizes on April 1, Romany and his attorney Dr. Henry Browne QC were prepared to have the matter heard but Counsel O'Neil Simpson told Her Lordship Justice Lorraine Williams that the Crown was not prepared to proceed.
It is said that Dr. Browne objected to the requested adjournment, stating that his client has been in prison for some three years because of heavy bail conditions and that the Prosecution had no grounds for the matter to be put off.
It is also said that Dr. Browne said Romany’s case is ready for trial and noted that he was subjected to injustice by being denied an early trial. “It is unfair for Romany. His bail terms are onerous. He is not a native of this country. This is a small island and his reputation is crucial. He is entitled to an early trial.”
Simpson, on the other hand, told Her Lordship that there were other matters to be investigated.
As the debate continued, a frustrated Romany made several outbursts from the prisoner’s dock.
He made it known that he has been a lawyer for 16 years and questioned the Court's justice.
Romany’s outbursts continued even when Her Lordship had made an attempt to inquire about his bail.
She eventually requested Romany's removal from the Court and adjourned the matter to the next sitting in November 2014.
