SEXUAL OFFENCES DOMINATE LIST ON MARCH CRIMINAL ASSIZES
The much publicized case of two men from Virgin Gorda who are charged with assaulting two women from the Dominican Republic comes up for hearing in the March assizes of the High Court of Justice. Elton Beazer and Denroy Stevens will have to answer to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of criminal damage. This case arose from an incident that occurred April 30th last year at the Bath and Turtle, a business place on Virgin Gorda.
The incident drew widespread public attention and led to a march against domestic violence to the Governor’s Office, with a petition calling for an investigation into the rising incidence of domestic violence in the territory of the Virgin Islands. During the arraignment, they again pleaded not guilty and the case was set to begin Thursday March 8th. Steven’s bail was increased from $4, 000 to $5, 000 and he was to report to the Virgin Gorda Police Station on Wednesday. Beazer was again remanded to custody. In other high court news, the case against Kenneth Freeman, a matter traversed from the last assizes, was set to begin March 8th. He is charged with housebreaking and larceny and receiving stolen property, arising from an incident that took place in Josiah’s Bay in March/April 1997. He pleaded not guilty.
A warrant was issued for the arrest of Jason Glasgow, who is charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13 years and unlawful intercourse with a girl under 16, but failed to appear in court. His surety, father James Glasgow, was allowed time to confer with a lawyer and is expected to return to court March 26th, at which time the judge will decide whether he would forfeit his $6,500 surety.
Nathaniel Mars was remanded to custody until his trial on March 13th. He is charged with rape and buggery from an incident that occurred April 8th, 2000 at Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke. The case against Nelson Callwood was traversed to the next criminal assizes in October 2001. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted rape, which allegedly occurred May 11th, 2000. He is out on bail in the sum of $5,000. Three young men, Tyrone Frett, Tambu Shaeel Frett and Ephraim Gordon, are jointly charged with two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault from incidents back in January 2000. They all pleaded not guilty.
Their case will now be heard March 19th. They remain on $10, 000 bail and their travel documents surrendered. There was another no show, this time by Jamieson Hopkins, who is charged with rape and his sureties. Justice Benjamin issued a warrant for his arrest and both sureties were to be summoned to appear in court March 8th. March 19th is the date set for the case against Ivan James Martin, who is charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 16 years to be mentioned. He is on $2,000 bail, his travel documents seized and he has to report to the Road Town Police Station twice a day two times a week.
A total of some 56 jurors have been summoned to give service during the current assizes. Justice Benjamin explained to them the process of their selection, followed strictly using the voters’ list. He expressed confidence in their ability and said he was satisfied they would acquit themselves well. “It is important that you don’t try these cases on the street…but in the courtroom,” he cautioned, adding: “to do otherwise would be a travesty of justice.” A nine-panel jury was selected to sit on the first case of the assizes, the case against St. Clair Percival. He pleaded not guilty to two charges of wounding with intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Another case expected to have been heard after the arraignment was that of Simeon Pope, charged with criminal damage and burglary. He pleaded guilty with explanation.
Meantime, Claudius Frett, who pleaded not guilty and was remanded to custody, will stand trial March 28th for rape and incest by a man; Ruther Miller Wellington, who is out on $2, 000 bail, will return March 21st for her trial, in which she pleaded not guilty to charges of false accounting and theft. Errol Arthurton will return to court March 26th to answer two charges of having sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13 years. This incident allegedly took place in the Valley, Virgin Gorda between February and July 2000. The accused is on $20, 000 bail. In another case from Virgin Gorda, Fred Innis is charged with burglary with intent to rape and rape. He is on $4, 000 bail. His case was set for March 13th.
Two other young men, Damian Hodge and Kenneth Helliger are jointly charged with aggravated burglary, robbery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, from an April 25th, 2000 robbery at Hotel Castle Maria in Road Town. They pleaded not guilty and their case set for March 19th. Both were remanded to custody.
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