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45% of cases completed in October HC assizes

- Nine guilty pleas recorded
December 14th, 2011 | Tags: High Court Sarah Benjamin October criminal assizes
The October criminal assizes concluded on Wed. December 14, 2011. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Case Manager for the October criminal assizes Sarah Benjamin revealed that 13 out of 29 cases were completed, as the assizes wrapped up this morning, Wednesday December 14, 2011.

According to Ms. Benjamin, the completed cases represented 45 percent of the case load with 16 cases traversed to the February 2012 assizes.

Meanwhile, of the 16 cases heard – nine were guilty pleas, two were found guilty; one not guilty and one matter was dismissed.

The court was filled with jurors and Crown Counsel Benjamin thanked them for executing their civic duty, and added, “The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is pleased that you took your responsibilities seriously.”

In wrapping up the session, Justice Indra Hariprashad-Charles commended the DPP for carrying out a successful assizes despite the hurdles they faced throughout the past two and a half months.

“To have so many guilty pleas were remarkable,” she added.

High praises were also given to the Crown Counsels by the Judge for providing detailed bundles that assisted her in sentencing defendants.

8 Responses to “45% of cases completed in October HC assizes”

  • egg face (14/12/2011, 15:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    only that??/I am still not impress..the legal system is a mess
    • Notes...... (14/12/2011, 16:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      How many cases do you think can done with a jury between october-December?? 10 weeks 10 cases?? ha! may be it do not work that way all the time some cases take longer than a week, plus mitigration, sentencing etc...Good Jod Crown Council considering you have limited staff
      • B (14/12/2011, 17:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        To Notes Don't be so quick to jump down egg face's throat... Please bear in mind that 9 of plead guilty so there was no lenghty trial in those instances and only 4 went to trial. So when you really calculate it more cases could of been dealt with but were not because of whatever the reason, also noting that some of these cases are ooooold (since 2009) and need to be dealt with as soon as possible.
        • Notes...... (15/12/2011, 15:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          To B Yes I understand that, but for october cases the Judge had some unexpected travel, which she became ill no court was held for about three weeks to a month, on top of that cases were called but neither the Crown nor the defence was ready to proceed which resulted in a day or two being lost
  • ann (14/12/2011, 16:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    but was this an improvement????
  • Mudda (14/12/2011, 20:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    They spend too much time between the cases. When judge aint out, witness can't be found and them spend too much time criticizing one another that they lose their focus along the way. God help us!!
  • bad system (15/12/2011, 00:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    all i know is the justice system sucks and if you do not have $$$$$$ you suck salt


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