Judge issues warning to defence, prosecution

64 criminal cases are down to be heard at this month’s criminal assizes at the High Court.

At the arraignment on Monday, there were no guilty pleas entered by any of the accused.##M[more]##

Some of the matters down for hearing at this assizes include the highly anticipated murder cases involving Webster Woodley, Sheldon Bain and Michael Samuel.

Woodley’s attorney Kay Bacchus Browne said that the constant traversing of her client’s matters has caused severe hardships on him to the point where he broke down and had to be taken to the hospital to seek medical treatment. Some consolation came to the defence team when the prosecution told them that the matter had been on the short-list of cases to be heard at this assizes and that a date has already been fixed for the trial.

Accused police constable Ericcson Harris is also up for re-trial in the double murders of Jenine Gill and Vonley Llewellyn, which took place on December 15, 2005.

Convicted murderer Earl Cauldric Edwards has to wait until a social inquiry and psychiatric report is forwarded to the court before he is sentenced. Edwards was found guilty earlier this year for the murder of Jason “Dappa” Burgin.

Presiding Judge Frederick Bruce-Lyle issued a stern warning to the defence and prosecution stating that he would not be tolerating any time wasting come this assizes. “When you come here and start to ‘pomposet’, I will just tell you that you are wasting my time,” Bruce-Lyle mentioned.

The judge also urged Lawyers to have respect for one another and work hand in hand to fight the backlogged cases. He also stated that the lawyers must operate on a give and take basis and help to raise the bar.