Murder-Accused Brit Wants Laptop, Cell Phones In Jail by LK Hewlett
Kevin Horstwood, the Brit awaiting trial for murder, is demanding he be allowed to have his laptop and cellphones while on remand at Her Majesty’ Prison. Horstwood, 55, was the owner of Rawlins Plantation Inn when he was charged with stabbing to death employee Matthew Murphy, a 60-year-old US citizen. Murphy’s body was discovered December 30, 2011, and Horstwood charged with murder on January 2, 2012 and remanded to prison. On the road to trial there have been many delays, including Horstwood changing lawyers on several occasions, to him wanting documents tested by handwriting experts in the UK after they had been tested in the US. His trial has been set for June 8th but he will have to return to court on May 11th to hash out pretrial details. The Brit has invoked Article 10 of the Constitution which states in part that a person shall be permitted to defend himself before the court; that was after he gave the court a short list of local lawyers he felt were competent enough to represent him, at the government’s expense. Having opted to defend himself in the capital trial, Horstwood has filed for disclosure as well as recordings from the Preliminary Inquiry at the Magistrate court level. At his most recent appearance before the court, Horstwood indicated to High Court Judge Justice Marlene Carter that he wished to have his two Blackberry phones, his laptop and internet access in jail, in order to prepare his case. Justice Carter indicated that would be a matter for the Superintendent of Prisons to determine and requested the official file an affidavit in relation to what the prison could or could not allow for inmates. The Observer understands Supt. Franklyn Dorset has already filed his affidavit on the matter with the court. According to prison regulations, inmates are not allowed unfettered access to communication devices in their cells. One prison official confirmed that inmates are allowed supervised access to computers during classes and are assisted with phone calls by prison personnel. Prisoners acting as legal counsel of their own behalf are assigned local counsel at the prison to assist with trial preparations. The Observer understands Horstwood is still attempting to get foreign attorneys to come to St. Kitts to represent him. The British Embassy in Barbados has reportedly assisted Horstwood in his quest to retain legal counsel.
