Case against lawyer begins

Witnesses have begun giving evidence in the theft and money laundering case against lawyer Ernest Winston Jackman.

The trial got underway before a nine-member jury in the No. 5 Supreme Court on Monday afternoon.

When the case was called, Jackman told Madam Justice Pamela Beckles who is presiding over the proceedings that the lawyer he had retained said he could not deal with such a matter at this stage.

He further disclosed that he had contacted another attorney on Monday but that person was at hospital conducting tests and could not attend the sitting. The accused then asked for a short adjournment of the case so he could allocate counsel to represent him but that application was denied by the judge.

The attorney is before the court charged with stealing $678,414.75 from HEJ Limited between June 23, 2006 and March 5, 2007. He is also accused of engaging in money laundering by allegedly disposing of the money between June 23, 2006, and October 18, 2011. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Principal Crown Counsel Krystal Delaney is representing the Crown in the matter in which nine witnesses are expected to give evidence.

In her opening statement to the jury, she revealed that John Huggins, the person behind HEJ Limited, built a number of townhouses which he wanted to sell. Jackman was his attorney. The sale of three townhouses was successful and while a fourth was sold, Huggins never received any money for it.

Three police officers gave evidence as well as attorney-at-law Dawn Williams who was the counsel for a family in the United States who purchased one of the townhouses from HEJ Limited at Maxwell Christ Church. The company, she said, was represented by Jackman.

She told the court that some $745 000 was paid by her clients and the money was transferred to her client’s trust account. It was then transferred to the vendor’s attorney, who was Jackman, via cheque in different amounts. She disclosed that all cheques written were deducted and cleared from her client’s trust account.

Jackman has reserved cross examination of the witnesses who have given evidence so far.

The matter continues Tuesday.