BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A man accused of stealing was verbally chastised in the court yesterday (Mar. 2) after allegedly attempting to prevent his case from being heard.

Dennis Doras of St. Peter’s attended the Basseterre High Court of Justice on Monday, where a jury was empanelled to try him for the offence of “larceny”.

His case was to have begun then, but after explaining to the court that he was expecting to have legal counsel available to him in court, which did not come to fruition, His Lordship Justice Francis Belle adjourned court to give Doras time to familiarise himself with his deposition and prepare himself for the case.

Court resumed later that day with Doras “missing in action”, which prevented the case from progressing and court was adjourned yet again.

Earlier today, when the session resumed and Doras again failed to appear before the court, His Lordship issued a bench warrant for his arrest and court was adjourned once more. 

After receiving word that the accused was at a doctor’s office in the vicinity of the court’s precincts, he was brought back to the court and, in the absence of the empanelled jury, an explanation for his absence was asked.

Doras told the court that the reason for his absence on the two previous sessions is because he is hypertensive and his blood pressure escalated to the point where he had to seek medical attention at the Joseph N. France General Hospital.

Doras explained that he had visited the hospital on Monday afternoon and was told his blood pressure was so high he could have suffered a stroke. He also told the court that he was to have been kept “overnight” at the institution but, against the physician’s advice, he signed the necessary documents and checked himself out. 

His explanation for those actions is that he knew he had a court date set for the following day (Tuesday), but claimed he was further advised to visit his family physician soonest.

Interestingly however, Doras, an Ex-police officer, suggested to the court that even after a jury was empanelled, he was not aware that he had to return to court for the commencement of the trial. The accused explained that he became aware of that fact only after he was contacted by one of his sureties, whom the police had informed of his absence.

Justice Belle told the accused that as a former police officer, he should be familiar with court proceedings. He also told Doras he should have known that when a case was in progress, the accused is to return to court on termination of each adjournment until the case is disposed of.

Doras maintained that he was unaware and was not told that he had to return to court to be tried.
His Lordship expressed that he blamed Doras for wasting two days of proceedings and indicated that he believes his intention was to prevent his case from being tried. He said Doras should have made an attempt to contact the court or one of its officers to inform of his condition

An obviously peeved Justice Belle noted that the only reason he had for not revoking Doras’ bail and throwing him behind bars, is his hypertension.

To avoid any speculation by the jury as to Doras’ absence from the sessions he should have attended, His Lordship thought it prudent to declare a mistrial and absolve the jury of its responsibility for that case.

As a variation to his bail conditions, Doras has to report to the Basseterre High Court of Justice for the remainder of the assizes until it is traversed to the next.