Prosecutors bracing for lengthy Criminal Assizes

Prosecutors in the High court are bracing themselves for what looks like a lengthy Criminal Assizes with a total of fifty-nine matters down for hearing including 22 murders and six rape cases.{{more}}

At the arraignment on Tuesday this week, Lennox Caine was the only person to plead guilty to the charges brought against him. Caine pleaded guilty to one count of forgery and one count of using a false instrument. He will be sentenced today.

Some of the noteworthy cases include that of convicted murderer Daniel “Compay” Trimmingham, who is back in court for the murder of Phillip Antoine on May 1, 2002 at Riley. Just last month, Trimmingham’s death sentence for the murder of Albert Browne on January 8, 2003 was commuted to life imprisonment by the privy Council.

Police Constable Ericsson Harris will be re-tried for the double murders of Janine Gill and Vonley Llewellyn on December 15, 2005. Recently convicted murderers Sheldon Bain and Webster Woodley are down for the murder of Livingston Primus of Sion Hill in August 2004. Bain is also charged with the double murder of Woodley’s mother and stepfather in December 2004.

Largo Heights resident, Leslie Ashton, 28, will answer to the murder of Sean Clouden, which took place on October 10, 2008 in San Souci. Clouden was killed on the spot after he was brought down by a hail of bullets. Marlon Stokes and Roland Gumbs are jointly charged with the August 2008 murder of Atiba “Crimo” Waldron at a gas station in Pembroke.

One of three females facing murder charges, Shannet Cumberbatch, will also have her day in court to answer to the murder of Rakeesh Sutherland on October 10 2008 at Queen’s Drive. Lowmans Leeward residents Rodney Roberts and Jason Henry stand accused of the triple murders of Reuben Small, Omoro Bownes and Javon Antoine which occurred on August 9, 2007. Dexter Quammie will also answer to a charge of causing the death of his wife, Kemlon Johnson Quammie. Quammie’s body was found hanging over an embankment on April 24, 2007 after she went missing on April 17, 2007.

Former Deputy Warden of the Kingstown Town Board, Claude Bascombe appeared in court facing two charges of rape, two charges of Indecent Assault and two charges of having sex with a girl under the age of 15. Some of the persons down for sentencing include Patrick Lovelace, who was convicted for a second time for the slaying of Lokisha Nanton. Woodley and Bain who were both convicted for the murder of taxi operator Peter Joseph, are also to be sentenced.

Prosecutors Duane Daniel and Carl Williams will be leading the cases for the crown in the absence of Director of Public Prosecutions, Colin Williams, who is out of state.(KW)