Judge says pandemic period interfering with progress of court cases

COVID-19 is “wreaking havoc” on the management of cases in the court system, Justice Carlisle Greaves has said.

He made the comment as another matter before his No. 3 Supreme Court had to be adjourned due to an accused being exposed to the virus.

Today, the case against Akeem Ricardo Bourne, of Emerald Park West, Six Roads, St Philip; Hakeem Zoe Isiah Robinson, of Barlett’s Tenantry Sergeant Village, Christ Church and Rachan Jackson Thomas, of Vauxhall, Christ Church was set to begin.

The three are facing a joint two-count indictment. They are charged that that on January 3, 2018 – in Christ Church –  they robbed Emmerson Trotman of a cellular phone , a wallet, a watch, US$120, and BDS$1 160;  totalling $3 250 as well as they entered his residence as trespassers and stole $200 while armed with firearms.

When the matter was called the witness in the case was present. However, the Judge informed him that the court could not proceed with the robbery and aggravated burglary matters at this time.

Robinson and Thomas are held at Dodds at present and the judge revealed that “COVID lockdown inside there and they can’t come out at this time.”

“COVID-19 is wreaking havoc throughout the courts. If it isn’t one thing, it is the other. Either the lawyer sick with COVID or the clerk sick or the stenographer sick . . .  or witnesses sick or a juror gone sick or exposed, or an accused sick, or prisoner sick – this is worse than trying to save a party boat and it is particularly difficult when the case is one with multiple defendants.

“But I am going to keep this case under tight management because I know that you [complainant] want the case done,” Justice Greaves said as he confirmed that his court’s diary was “almost full” for the month of March but “We are behind scheduled”.

The matter will come up again for trial.

Bourne, who was present in court, is represented by attorney-at-law Leslie Cargil Straker while Senior Crown Counsel Neville Watson is the prosecutor.