By: Suelika N. Buchanan
Editor-SKNVibes.com
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| Chadin Buchanan and his mother Jacqueline Buchanan leaving the court house. |
(Basseterre; St. Kitts): Chadin Buchanan said he would try his best to stay out of trouble.
He told SKNVibes that, moments after he was set free. Buchanan had been incarcerated for 8 months at her Majesty's Prison for Robbery.
However, during his preliminary inquiry the magistrate unknowingly tried Buchanan as an adult and not as a juvenile to which he was at the time.
His lordship Justice Francis Belle was presented with an indictment from the Director of Public Prosecution that was done by the magistrate and the investigating officer in the matter.
He adjourned the court for a few minutes where he reviewed the indictment. After court was in session again, he told the DPP Paulina Hendrickson he would squash the indictment.
Belle said that the indictment did not show that the magistrate was informed that Buchanan was a juvenile at the PI hearing and therefore he was tried as an adult.
"Looking at the magistrate's report, it does not show that they were aware they were dealing with a young person," he said. "And therefore I will squash this indictment."
Before Buchanan left the court Belle told him that he should take this opportunity to behave himself otherwise he is going to end up in serious trouble.
"Take the possibility that you might even lose your life, seriously, and don't get into anymore trouble," the judge said.
Outside the courtroom, Buchanan met his joyful mother who was overwhelmed with tears.
~~Adz:Right~~"It feels good to be out of jail, after being in there for 8 months," he said. "I now want to go out and get a job to help my mom and stay out of trouble."
A lot of things happening now and I don't want to get into anything, because these times are serious," Buchanan said.
Jacqueline Buchanan, mother of Buchanan said that she is happy to see her son.
"I'm a Christian and I was really praying for him and I hope that he would not get himself into anything else," she said.
His lawyer former Crown Counsel and magistrate in St. Vincent, Reginald W. James said that he hopes his client would take heed to the judge's advice.
"I hope Mr. Buchanan would take his lordship's advice and use this chance to go straight and not come back before the court because he might not be as fortunate the next time," James said.
