Date set for Senator Cummings assault trial

July 18th is the date when Opposition Senator Daniel Cummings’ assault trial is set to get underway.{{more}}

Senator Cummings appeared at the Serious Offences Court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to assaulting police constable Alasius Stapleton on April 27th at the Kingstown Wharf.

At the last hearing of the matter, Stapleton was out of the state on a training programme in Barbados and was not due back until August 18. However at the request of the Commissioner of Police, Stapleton was brought back to the country.

Stapleton was served with a summons while at court on Wednesday to re-appear on July 18 to enter his plea in the cross complaint filed against him by Cummings. Crown Counsel Saboto Caesar requested that the police officer be given more time to prepare his case in answer to the charge. Chief Magistrate Simone Churaman granted Caesar’s request and said that when Stapleton appears in court on July 18 to answer the charge, the court will decide on a date when the cross complaint will be heard.

Lawyer for Cummings, Emery Robertson made a suggestion to the court that both the charge against his client and the cross complaint be held on the same date. “It will be more convenient to the court if we begin each matter at the same date as to save judicial time.” Magistrate Churaman however denied Robertson’s application and ordered that the matters be heard separately.

Opposition leader Arnhim Eustace and NDP’s vice president St Clair Leacock were also on hand to lend their support to Cummings.

The prosecution plans on calling approximately six witnesses to give evidence in the assault charge against Cummings. (KW)