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| Her Ladyship, Justice Ianthea Leigertwood-Octave |
Charlestown Nevis (March 28, 2006) The Nevis Criminal Assizes for 2006 began on Monday, one week ahead of the scheduled date on the 1st Tuesday in every April, with eight new matters and one traversed from the November 2005 Criminal Assizes. Justice Ianthea Leigertwood-Octave is presiding over the Assizes.
Of the eight new matters, three were disposed of on Monday while trial dates were set for the remaining matters. The murder case of Eric Weekes, a land mark case for the island of Nevis had been traversed from the November Assizes, saw Marius Webbe, Kishmoy Challenger, Jermaine Freeman, Ashton Williams and Ashley Freeman jointly charged for the offence.
This is the first time in Nevis that multiple persons are charged for the same offence. The matter had initially tried at the April 2005 Criminal Assizes but was traversed to the November 2005 Assizes when the jury failed to arrive at a verdict. It was then traversed to the April 2006 Assizes because there was interference with the jurors. The new trial is set to begin on April 3, 2006.
In a separate indictment, Marius Webbe and his brother Kester Webbe have been indicted on three counts; Robbery and two counts of Receiving, The offences were alleged to have been committed on August 15, 2003 at Savers Food Centre. That trial is set for April 27, 2006.
The other new matters include Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, Incest, Escaping Lawful Custody and House Breaking and Larceny. Of those disposed of, Warren Browne pleaded guilty to the offence of Shop Breaking and Larceny and Receiving and was sentenced to six months for Receiving. The offence was committed between November 26 and 28, 2005 at a store in Charlestown.
Kishon Rawlins pleaded guilty to three counts of House Breaking and Larceny. He received a 3 year sentenced for the offence committed on Temple Building between 6 and 8 February, 2006.
For Escaping Lawful Custody on November 12, 2005 from the Prison in Nevis, Anderson Hendricks received 18 months. He is presently serving a five year sentence for House Breaking and Larceny.
Harvey "Pumby Boy" Stapleton pleaded not guilty to four counts of Unlawful and Malicious Damage which was allegedly committed on February 2, 2005. His trial was set for 24th April 2006.
Andrew Hollywood Nisbett and Elmo Grant who were jointly charge for the offence of Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and Knowingly suffering a girl to be on the premises for Unlawful Carnal Knowledge pleaded not guilty. Their trail was set for April 19, 2006.
Meanwhile, Justice Octave had issued a Bench Warrant for Mr. Laughton Mills who was indicted for the offence of Incest after he failed to show up at the start of the Assizes. He showed up moments after the assizes was adjourned, armed with a document stating that he was put on bail for the offence of Incest and is to appear at the High Court sitting on April 4, 2006. The Bench Warrant was later withdrawn.
The law stipulates that High Court is to commence its hearing of Criminal matters on the 1st Tuesday in April and the 1st Tuesday in November each year. The first matter set for hearing was the DPP vs Lester Peters for the offence of Unlawful Carnal Knowledge on Tuesday but was adjourned to Monday May 1st 2006 when the Criminal Assizes continues.
