Policewoman sacks her four Lawyers

“She is tired, traumatized. She wanted to get rid of it.”

That’s the reason why the policewoman who on January 28, 2008, first filed sexual assault and rape charges against Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves earlier this week discontinued all remaining proceedings.{{more}}

This is according to her new attorney, Jaundy Martin.

Martin replaces the four-pronged legal team of Kay Bacchus Browne, Emery Robertson, Sharon Morris-Cummings and Nicole Sylvester which had represented the woman over the past seven and a half months.

Martin told SEARCHLIGHT that he has filed a notice of change of solicitor in the courts. A notice of discontinuance of the rape and sexual assault matters has also been filed, Martin confirmed.

This is an unexpected twist in the 8-month long saga that had turned heads in the direction of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The policewoman had claimed that on January 3, while on duty at the Prime Minister’s official residence, he assaulted and raped her.

Dr Gonsalves has always maintained his innocence and vowed not to allow the matter to derail his focus from governing the country.

He was set to appear before a Kingstown court to answer to the charges on February 22, but on February 4, Director of Public Prosecutions, Colin Williams, stepped in and took over the cases and wholly discontinued them.

This triggered a host of legal and public relations maneuvering.

DPP Williams and Commissioner of Police Keith Miller were accused of trying to protect Dr Gonsalves.

Both men, however, claim that their actions were totally professional. Both COP Miller and DPP Williams have continually said that they found no evidence to corroborate the policewoman’s claims, hence found no reason to charge Dr Gonsalves with any offence.

The woman’s legal team sought permission to apply for judicial review of DPP Williams’ decision to discontinue the case.

On March 11, Justice Gertel Thom ruled that she found “no arguable grounds for a review”. Her ruling was upheld by the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal.

Then two weeks ago, on September 3, President of the Family Court Colleen Mc Donald refused to issue a summons to Dr Gonsalves when the policewoman’s Lawyers re-filed the matter in the Family Court. Magistrate Mc Donald viewed that move as frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the process of the Court.

At press time, Nicole Sylvester told SEARCHLIGHT that no interview will be granted until an exclusive interview given to a particular media house has been aired.