Wakima Lettsome as he was about to enter the Magistrate's court at a previous appearance. Photo: VINO

Mr Lettsome was charged with wounding, unlawful possession of cannabis and being armed with an offensive weapon among other charges. He had previously pleaded guilty to wounding.

Magistrate Tamia Richards also pointed out that Lettsome had another matter before the High Court. Lettsome is facing an attempted murder charge after being accused of shooting Jonathan Colaire, 27, in the abdomen at the Crabbe Lot area on November 18, 2011. Lettsome was jointly charged with Brenton Penn on several of the charges that were before the Magistrate's Court today.

Crown Counsel Leslie-Ann Faulkner noted that the defendant had previously raised concerns about turning up for court on several occasions and seeing nothing happen with his case. She said the DPP’s office had written on at least three occasions regarding the completion of the file; twice in 2010 and once in 2011.

She further revealed that no statements other than that from the Investigating Officer, Mr Samuels, were in the file at present. It was on this basis that she announced that the Crown felt it was unfair to ask the defendant to return for another adjournment date given the uncertainty surrounding whether the Crown would be able to proceed in the matter.

Lettsome thanked the court and said he was asking that the Court dismiss the charges as they had been a tremendous burden to him for almost three years and had now caused him to be suspended from his job.

Magistrate Richards then dismissed the charges saying there was no reasonable expectation that the Crown would be able to proceed with the matter in the foreseeable future and the Court, being of summary jurisdiction, had an implied responsibility to ensure that matters were moved quickly through the system.

She then told him that the matters were dismissed both against him and Mr Penn.

Due to his pending matter in the High Court and other Magistrate’s Court matters, Mr Lettsome was further remanded and asked to return on December 14, 2012.