Frederick requests to be tried by a judge, jury

Veteran Attorney Bayliss Frederick has requested that his matters be tried in the High Court instead of before a Magistrate.

Frederick, 86, has been charged with using a loud speaker without lawful authority at Bay Street on March 3, 2011.{{more}} He was also charged with assaulting Police Inspector Calvin Glasgow by pushing him with his hands at Kingstown on the same date.

When a frail Frederick appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, March 8, he told Senior Magistrate Donald Browne that he was not entering a plea to the charges laid against him, but noted that he wanted the matters to be tried in the High Court.

“I will like to be tried by a judge and jury so that there is a record to see whether I am guilty or not. I want it to be sent up to be tried by the judge in the Assizes,” Frederick asserted.

Frederick was arrested during the New Democratic Party’s (NDP) protest held on Thursday, March 3. After he was arrested, it is reported that Frederick took ill and was taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in a police vehicle.

When Frederick attempted to leave the hospital later that afternoon, he was told by police officers that he could not do so, because he was under arrest and had to return to the Central Police Station.

Frederick and his daughter, opposition Senator Vynnette Frederick, were then engaged in verbal spat with the police over why the elder Frederick could not be allowed to leave.

Frederick did not leave the hospital that day. He remained there over the weekend until Monday, when he was discharged.

In response to Frederick, Browne said his charges were summary matters and charges of that nature were usually tried before the Magistrate’s Court.

Frederick then said that he believes there are provisions in the Criminal Procedure Code that a defendant in such cases can be tried by a jury. “It’s not that I intend to disrespect this court. I just want it to be on record, your worship,” Frederick said.

The court then agreed that there was some merit to Frederick’s request to have the matter heard in the High Court.

Representing Frederick, Betram Commissiong Q.C. said, out of an abundance of caution, he asked for time to study the provisions of Section 6 and 8 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Commissiong said he will make submissions to the court when the matter is called up again on April 18.

Attorneys Kay Bacchus-Browne and Samantha Robertson also represent Frederick in the matters.(KW)