BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – OWING to its urgency and precedence, the May 2009 Criminal Assizes has been temporarily suspended to give way to the hearing of matters in the ongoing legal battle between the Hon. Shawn K. Richards and the Electoral Boundaries Commission and the Attorney General.
SKNVibes understands that although there were criminal matters scheduled to be heard yesterday (July 13), Resident Judge, His Lordship Justice Francis Belle explained to the jury pool that it would have to return to court on Monday, June 20 when the Criminal Assizes should continue.
The May 2009 Criminal Assizes began on May 26 with in excess of 50 cases set for hearing. Quite a number of them have been disposed of and this media house understands that about five cases were scheduled for hearing yesterday.
The cases are that of murder-accused Elroy ‘Stanny’ Williams, rape-accused Livingston Carey, Rudolph John who is charged with indecent assault and that of Jermain Charles and Dwayne Audain Stevens who are jointly charged with unlawful carnal knowledge. These cases were traversed for hearing during the September 2009 Criminal Assizes which is tentatively slated to begin on the 22nd of that month.
Verlyn Zakers, who is accused of illegal importation of firearms and ammunition and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, was to have stood trial at the court yesterday but, for the same reason, the case has been rescheduled to be heard on Monday, July 20.
Director of Public Prosecution Paulina Hendrickson spoke exclusive with SKNVibes concerning the suspension and indicated that it would have a direct impact on the Criminal Assizes; however, matters of state take precedence.
“These are important matters of state, so the judge in his wisdom suspended the assizes. We have at least 15 matters slated for trial during this week but the other proceedings take precedence. Next week, we will see how they go.”
