Father takes swipe at Police Force
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A local legal practitioner walked out of the District ‘A’ Magistrate Court, Basseterre a satisfied individual after his case was dismissed on the ground that it was not properly made out.
Attorney-at-Law Jason Hamilton of the law firm Hamilton & Company appeared yesterday (Dec. 22) before Her Worship Karen Hyacinth Hill-Hector for willfully obstructing Sergeant Edward Drew of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force in the execution of his duty.
Speaking with SKNVibes, Jason’s lawyer, Glenford Hamilton (who happens to be his father), said that on May 21, 2010 a search warrant was executed on the Dorset property of Michael and Tacuma Glasford, who were clients of his son.
“Nothing was found. But after the search, police set upon the client to take a Black Berry phone that he had on his person. Jason arrived at the same time and sought to direct the police that they were not right in taking the phone,” the senior Hamilton said.
He noted that the officers at the scene were armed to the teeth with automatic and semi-automatic firearms and had disagreed with Hamilton’s objection to them taking his client’s phone, which resulted in them seeking to apprehend him.
“Jason resisted that approach, was wrongfully arrested, unceremoniously dumped into a vehicle and taken to the police station, from where he was made to attend a bail hearing because of standing up for the right of his client,” Hamilton explained.
Hamilton said the police was represented by Director of Public Prosecution Paulina Hendrickson and Crown Counsel Rhonda Nisbett-Browne, and “Magistrate Hill-Hector, at the end of the evidence, dismissed the case on the ground that it was not properly made out”.
Hamilton declared that he was satisfied with the court’s decision and had all along believed that his son had done no wrong.
“We at Hamilton & Company are particularly satisfied with the decision handed down by the learned magistrate, especially that it was our position all along that Jason did nothing wrong. He was merely standing up for his client who the police sought to oppress.
“Hamilton & Company takes the view that this quality of police work militates against the solving of crime in the Federation of St. Kitts of Nevis; for if the police don’t listen to lawyers who try to direct them as to the law, then no citizen, less trained than a lawyer, would have their rights respected. And, perhaps, it is for reasons such as this that citizens are less than forthcoming with information to solve crime in the Federation,” Hamilton said.
The younger Hamilton also spoke with this media house and expressed his feelings on what he called an unfortunate incident that should not have reached the hallway of a court.
“I feel relieved and happy that the matter has ended, more so, in my favour, not only as a legal practitioner but as a law-abiding citizen of this country. I never sought to disrespect the police or breach the laws of the land, but just to be true to my oath in the performance of my duties as a legal practitioner,” Jason said.
Jason thanked a number of people for supporting him prior to and during the trial, including his colleagues and peers.
“I would like to thank my wife and my father for their unwavering support, members of the legal fraternity who offered advice and counsel, and my friends who stood by me during this unfortunate incident in my life.”
In response to what steps would be taken following his court victory, the senior Hamilton said, “We are still working on our options, because we take the view that Jason was wrongfully arrested and humiliated by Sergeant Drew without legal justification.”
The senior Hamilton also took a swipe at the police force and hinted on what he termed its failing image”.
“I am of the view that it is a sad day in this country when an ineffective police force, unable to catch and bring criminals to justice, seeks to vilify law-abiding citizens such as Jason Hamilton in order to bolster its failing image.”
