Lawyer says prosecutor’s bail objections inadequate

Attorney-at-law Andrew Pilgrim made a successful bail application for a client on Tuesday on the basis that the prosecution’s objections were woefully “inadequate”.

His client, Jason Henderson Goddard, 43, of Redman Village, St Thomas, is facing a charge of stealing Dale Montague’s motor car valued at $15 000 between July 12 and 13.

The labourer could not plead as the charge is an indictable offence when he appeared before Magistrate Alison Burke in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor Ralph Rollock objected to Goddard being granted bail because investigations were still ongoing and there were fears that he would interfere with the probe. The prosecutor also pointed to the nature of the offence and Goddard’s prior conviction for a similar offence though he conceded that it was of some “vintage”, given that it was in 1998.

In his reply, Pilgrim KC who represents Goddard with attorney-at-law Kristen Vanderpool argued that the nature of the offence was not enough to deny an accused bail “given the new Bail Act“.

Pilgrim contended: “That objection does not assist the court in any way. The antecedent is 26 years old; it does not assist the court either.”

The defence counsel also countered the objection that the accused would interfere with the investigation if granted bail.

“On what basis?” the defence lawyer queried. “Because you can’t just say that. Why, because he is a rasta? Because he is wearing gold buckle shoes? You had him in custody for the last four days. To say he may interfere . . . is in my humble submission inadequate. The alleged vehicle is in police custody, what is the peril . . . the question is does he have a surety”.

Magistrate Burke then ruled in favour of the defence and offered Goddard $10 000 bail which he secured with a surety.

The case against the accused was then adjourned to January 8, 2025.