EG Lynch’s Attorney: Charges a waste of time

Charges brought against radio personality Elwardo Lynch have been branded by his lawyer as “a judicial waste of time.”{{more}}

Lynch, host of the daytime talk programme “New Times”, has been hauled before the courts to answer two charges of criminal libel, and one of causing fear and alarm and disrupting public peace.

The Opposition New Democratic Party’s (NDP) spokesman appeared before Senior Magistrate Donald Browne last Monday, November 05. The case was adjourned to January 08, 2008.

The charges stem from statements made by Lynch on his radio programme in August.

Lynch spoke about an alleged late night beach gathering involving Minister of Housing Julian Francis, Assistant Commissioner of Police Lenroy Brewster, and another person.

Both Brewster and Francis have denied the allegations, and Francis, through his lawyers, has threatened legal actions.

Veteran attorney Kay Bacchus Browne, who is representing Lynch, told SEARCHLIGHT that the criminal charges brought against her client were surprising.

She said while provision for criminal libel charges are made in the statue books, usually such charges are brought civilly by the persons who feel they were offended.

“We were preparing for a civil case, as was threatened by Francis,” Bacchus said.

The two charges of criminal libel carry individual maximum sentences of two years, while the charge of causing alarm attracts a maximum one year sentence. (KJ)