BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE April 2013 Criminal Assizes in Nevis has closed and of the eight cases that were scheduled to be heard, five of them were disposed of.
The five cases were those of Delvin Wilkinson, Akeem Foster, Warren Browne, Jasper Qvist, and Carlos Robinson and Tamisha Bartlette.
Wilkinson, who was charged with the November 2, 2010 killing of his girlfriend and mother of his child, Chantelica Thompson, was freed by the Nevis Circuit Court last Tuesday (Apr. 23) following the granting of a No Case Submission.
Represented by Hesketh Benjamin and Dr. Henry Browne QC, the Attorneys made the submission following the testimonies of 12 witnesses who gave evidence on behalf of the prosecution.
Dr. Browne argued that the prosecution did not present any evidence to prove that Wilkinson committed the act.
He said that with the lack of evidence, it would only leave the jury to speculate on whether or not he actually did the crime.
His Lordship Justice John Benjamin agreed and told the prosecution team that it would not do justice to put the case before the jury and leave them to speculate, as there was indeed no evidence to prove that the then accused, Wilkinson, committed the crime.
The jury then returned and, upon direction of the Court, was ordered to deliver a not guilty verdict and Wilkinson was set free.
Foster was originally charged with robbery and burglary but pleaded guilty to the latter charge early in the Assizes and the prosecution dropped the former.
It was reported that on the evening of August 2, 2012, Foster broke into the house of Thomas Johnson at Ramsbury Site with the intent to steal.
The 19-year-old appeared before Justice Benjamin QC last Thursday (Apr. 25) and was sentenced to three years behind bars.
Browne of Rawlins, Gingerland, Nevis was given two three-year sentences with hard labour last Thursday, following his conviction of attempted unlawful carnal knowledge and house breaking and larceny.
The offences were committed on May 26, 2012 and both sentences are to run concurrently.
Qvist was found guilty by a 12-member jury also on Thursday, last, of raping a female on August 11, 2012 at Nelsons Spring.
His case began on Wednesday (Apr. 24) and following his guilty verdict he was given a three-year prison sentence.
Robinson and Bartlette, on Friday (Apr. 19), were exonerated of rape and indecent assault charges.
They were accused of holding down a female in the restroom of the Nevis Valu Mart branch on June 21, 2012, where all three of them worked.
The Court was told that Bartlette, while sitting atop the counter next to a face basin, held the victim between her legs and fondled her while Robinson raped her.
The prosecution rested its case after calling some six witnesses to testify.
Robinson and Bartlette did not testify or call anyone to give evidence on their behalf.
After deliberation, the 12-member jury brought back unanimous not guilty verdicts on both counts.
The sitting of the next Criminal Assizes in Nevis is expected to take place in November of this year.
