Given the huge backlog of cases in the justice system, the courts must deal with matters to “bring justice to those who want justice and not waste our time with those who do not”.
Justice Carlisle Greaves made that position clear on Monday as he dismissed a case before his No. 3 Supreme Court for want of prosecution.
Zaquan Ryan Oneal Walcott, of Kingsland Gardens, Christ Church, was charged that on November 8, 2018, he did use a firearm and did not have a valid licence to do so, and that he damaged a motor van belonging to David Clarke intending to damage such property or was reckless as to whether such property would be damaged.
He was further alleged to have discharged a firearm on Gall Hill Road in a manner that placed Winston Hamblin and Ricardo Cave in danger of death or serious bodily harm.
Walcott, who was represented by attorney-at-law Angella Mitchell-Gittens, had denied the charges.
When the matter was called on Monday, the court heard that the complainants had failed to appear and had told officers they would not be attending court. This led to Mitchell-Gittens’ submission for the case to be dismissed for lack of prosecution.
In expressing his “reluctance” at dismissing such cases, the judge stated that the courts have very serious matters to deal with.
“We are visited by an awesome backlog which we must clear up in order to give us the strength and ability to bring control to the society. We know that if we labour under the burden of a big backlog we can never be as strong as we should be. So we must spend our time, at this time, dealing with the matters that seriously want to be dealt with in these courts to bring justice to those who want justice and not wasting our time with those who do not,” Justice Greaves said.
He again expressed concerns about the prevalence of gun cases such as the one before his court.
“This court considers this matter to be a serious one. The scourge of firearms and use of firearms in this community is well known and it has been the efforts of these courts, relentlessly, to try to bring it under some control.
“So, this court does not lightly move to dismiss an indictment of a nature and seriousness [like] this. Because of the seriousness of these offences and the impact this kind of activity contribute . . . to our society, I find a great deal of reluctance to dismiss cases like these.
“We have constantly warned the youngsters of this country that the firearms would get them nowhere but the prison or the cemetery, yet they continue to contribute nothing to this society other than turmoil,” Justice Greaves said before dismissing the case.
