Attorney to Crown: ‘Bring the evidence’

Veteran attorney Angella Mitchell-Gittens today demanded that the Crown “bring the evidence and let us do something” in the
murder case against her client, as the police prosecutor sought yet more time from the magistrate.

She made the declaration this afternoon in response to the prosecutor’s request for another adjournment in the case against Adrian Obrian Williams, of Henley Land, St John who is charged in connection with the March 28, 2018 death of Jakeil Small.

Mitchell-Gittens told Magistrate Douglas Frederick: “If this is a serious charge then the input or impetus must be on getting the files ready, so that we can get it out of the Magistrates’ Courts within two years and it cannot be good enough, Sir, that Mr Williams has been coming here from March of 2018 and the best you can hear from [the prosecution] is another 28 days.

“If the matter is serious, Sir, everybody must treat it serious, especially the people who are bringing the charges. It cannot be because you charge him with murder… let him spend two years or three years because it is murder.  If it is so serious, bring the evidence, let us commit to getting it to the High Court.

“Unless their feet are held to the fire they do nothing and before we know it is five years… that is not good enough…. We must have standards. It can’t be good that they put a charge sheet say you are charged for murder [and] stop it there, what happens if he is acquitted? Who can give him back from March last year to [the time] he has spent in prison?”

Mitchell-Gittens also stated that there must be standards as well as consequences in cases where accused persons cannot get bail in the Magistrates’ Court.

She continued: “There must be a file, there must be something… or there must be consequences. I am asking that their feet are held to the fire especially in respect of matters where persons are not automatically granted bail… bring the evidence and let us do something…. Let it not be business as usual…. I would like something other than we are not yet ready…. That can’t be good enough after a man spend a year in prison [and you] aint’ ready yet.”

In response, Station Sergeant Carrison Henry said he had heard the arguments of the defence lawyer and would address his seniors on the issue.

“We are working on the file…. I am pleading with the officers to get these matters expedited,” the prosecutor assured the court just before the matter was adjourned until May 27.