Murder accused seek magistrate’s removal from case over alleged conflict of interest

Three men jointly charged with murder have taken legal action against a local magistrate, asking the High Court to order her removal from presiding over their preliminary inquiry due to an alleged conflict of interest.

The matter is scheduled to be heard next Tuesday before Justice Bryan Weekes in the No. 7 Supreme Court.

Kemar Mario Greene and Romono Anthony Drayton — the first and second claimants — filed the original claim on April 16, 2025, naming the Attorney General as the defendant. A third accused, Ian Farrell, has since joined the lawsuit.

Farrell’s attorney, Kyle Walkes, told Barbados TODAY on Friday that his client would be affected by the same set of circumstances outlined in the claim.

The three are charged with murdering 72-year-old Simeon Legall between November 8 and 10, 2022.

According to court documents, Greene has been on remand since January 2023, and Drayton since November 2022. Both men are currently appearing before Magistrate Deborah Beckles at the District ‘D’ Criminal Court. Farrell, however, was released on bail last month.

The claimants argue that despite the length of time since they were charged with the capital offence, there has been no disclosure of evidence to date. Their attorneys say repeated requests for the matter to be dismissed for want of prosecution — or at minimum, for an ‘Unless Order’ to be issued — have gone unanswered.

In addition, the statement of claim alleges that Greene and Magistrate Beckles were former neighbours and that there had been several altercations between their families in the past.

The men are seeking a High Court declaration for the magistrate’s immediate recusal, along with vindicatory damages, legal costs, and any other relief the court considers appropriate.

Greene and Drayton are represented by attorney Lalu Hanuman. Senior State Counsel Jared Richards is appearing on behalf of the Attorney General’s Chambers.