Six Criminal Cases Tried In January Assizes Dozens Awaiting Trial by LK Hewlett Justice Marlene Carter
Six criminal cases were tried during the January Assizes at the Basseterre High Court, up from two during the September assizes. Trial Judge Her Honor Justice Marlene Carter said at Tuesday’s (Mar 31) closing of the criminal assizes that a total of 11 matters were disposed of. “We’ve managed to get eleven maters completed; six trials were completed and there were five guilty pleas,” she informed. She thanked the Prosecution team led by Director of Public Prosecution Travers Sinanan for its “hard work and commitment”. She also commended the Criminal Bar for assisting the court in several matters. Despite the improved number of trials, Justice Carter said, “So we’ve moved a little along…but there is still a lot of work to do.” She informed that 36 persons are still awaiting trial in criminal court. Chief Prison Office Liburd gave a breakdown of the figures for detainees at Her Majesty’s Prison. There are a total of 272 persons remanded to prison in the federation for various reasons. 235 are at HMP, 32 in the Nevis camp, and one male at the Cardin Home. Only four of the jailed persons are women. 140 persons were convicted at the high court, 37 at the Magistrate court, 36 males and 1 female are awaiting trial at the high court, 36 males and 1 female are awaiting trial at the Magistrate court, 8 males are awaiting sentencing, four males and one female are detained by court order, five males are in debtors’ jail, one female from Thailand is listed as a prohibited immigrant and is awaiting deportation, and one condemned prisoner.
