Magistrate annoyed over delay caused by investigator

After five months awaiting the commencement of his Preliminary Inquiry, murder accused Kenny Lewis will have to wait another month for his matter to be heard.{{more}}

Lewis is charged with the murder of 24-year-old Uroy “Laybay” Robertson, who died from a single gunshot wound to the left side of his head on September 2, 2012 at about 8:00 p.m. The bullet destroyed his brain, then lodged in his right cheek.

On Wednesday, at the Serious Offences Court, investigator Jeffrey Laborde told the court that the files in the matter were not yet ready.

An annoyed Chief Magistrate Sonya Young asked the officer when would they be ready. Laborde responded that they would be ready in two to three weeks time.

“Something is fundamentally wrong here. You arrest and charge him (Lewis) since September and when I give you a date for Preliminary Inquiry, I expect that you will be ready then,” Young said.

The magistrate stated that Lewis has been sitting in jail for over five months, awaiting hearing of his matter.

“He’s there for this amount of time. This is one of the most serious, if not the most serious offence,” Young continued.

“These people are sitting there, guilty or innocent and they can’t get bail. It is not an inconvenience to you (LaBorde), but to him and especially me. When I give a date I expect you to be ready,” she added.

A final adjournment was given in the matter, in which 10 witnesses are expected to take the stand.

Lewis is also charged with possession of a 12-gauge shotgun and six rounds of 12-gauge cartridges on September 5, 2012.

He was not allowed to plead to the use of a 9 mm Lama pistol in the commission of an offence and having a 9mm Lama pistol with intent to injure Uroy Robertson on September 2.