BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A total of 19 incomplete cases from the previous assizes and 13 new matters will comprise the calendar of cases for the current September 2010, Criminal Assizes.
Following a brief ceremony to welcome his Lordship Justice Errol Thomas the new resident judge the matters were called before the court.
However, there has not been any trial date set for many of the cases but pleas were taken for the new matters.
Among the five murder cases that are set for this assizes two of them are new matters.
Amal Whyte and Devon Fyfield were charged with the murder of Hubert Phipps at Wades Garden on June 23, 2005.They both pleaded not guilty. Whyte is being represented by Jason Hamilton while Fyfield is being represented by Hesketh Benjamin.
Curtlee Rogers and Alpha Duporte are facing one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of wounding. The prosecution is alleging that on July 18, 2009, at Godwin Ghaut the men did kill Dexter Marsham and attempted to murder Royden Gumbs and Jessica Gumbs. They are also charged with wounding Royden Gumbs and Jessica Gumbs.
Jahdell Browne pleaded not guilty to a double murder allegedly committed on October 25, 2009 and the offence of wounding with intent.
Delvin Jeremiah Benjamin’s murder case is expected to be heard during these this assizes along with that of Nelson Challenger, Shenroy Francis, Jomi Rawlins, Glenroy Smithen and Moses Gardener who were all charged with murder and manslaughter. Both cases were traversed from the last assizes.
Seven sexual offences are down for trial during these assizes with three Unlawful Carnal Knowledge matters, three rape cases and one indecent assault matter.
There were a number of Robberies, cases of Larceny and Burglary also set for hearing including a Burglary case involving Ourtic Gillard which will be heard tomorrow, September 22.
Gillard also has another robbery matter which is alleged to have occurred at Calypso Bay on October 10, 2007 set down for trial.
Eldean Phipps pleaded not guilty to shooting at with intent to do harm at Travis Matthew on December 13, 2009 in Saddlers.
Rawle Benjamin and Glenville Maynard pleaded not guilty to Robbery of several items from Shirley Matthew on September 23, 2009 at Bellevue.
Devon Ryan was charged with attempted murder and wounding with intent of Uthendale Whyte on October 19, 2009 in Basseterre. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Other matters that have been traversed from the last assizes include that of Newrish Nital who was charged with three counts of Fraud & False Pretence, Amit Sahajwala who was charged with Embezzlement and Baba Tunde Dami Lola Alonge who is facing charges on two counts of False Pretence.
Following Gillard’s trial tomorrow, Leon Sutton’s case of Possession of Housebreaking Implements is scheduled to begin on Thursday, September 23.
