BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A robbery case brought against three young men yesterday (June 10) got off to a rocky start and ended somewhat unexpectedly when the prosecutor informed that he would pursue the case no further.
It was the prosecution’s intention to prove that Junior Stevens, Rawle Benjamin and Glenville Maynard, on the night of March 23, 2008 while at the Line Gate in Tabernacle, robbed Alfred Heyliger of one cell phone, one silver neck chain and EC$175, all to the value of EC$799.
Heyliger took the stand and before even taking the oath told the court, “I aine interested in this case no more.”
He took the oath and further informed the court that he did not know the three accused men and he was forced by the police to give a statement concerning the matter.
The virtual complainant said he remembered something happened at the Line Gate in Tabernacle but could say what it was.
“I remember an incident occurred at the Line Gate in Tabernacle in which I was involved. I can’t remember what happened. I can’t tell you what happened because me aine remember what happened.”
Recognising the witness’ deportment, lead prosecutor in the case Reynold Benjamin made application to the trial judge under the Evidence Act, Sections 14, 15 and 16 for the witness to be declared “hostile” which was granted by the court.
The court broke for the lunch and after resumption Benjamin informed that he would be prosecuting the case no further.
“I have considered this matter and (I) am offering no further evidence against the accused in light of what has gone on.”
Because the case was already placed in the hands of the jury, His Lordship Justice Francis Belle ordered the jurors to return a unanimous “not-guilty” verdict for all accused to which they acquiesced.
In an attempt to provide readership with a more simplified explanation on the outcome of the case, SKNVibes sought to get further explanation to the reason for the prosecutor’s non-pursuance, but this proved futile.
