A court on Thursday freed a Savanne Paille man of murder while the magistrate slammed the prosecution for failing to comply to an order of disclosure.
Trevor Abraham was accused of murdering Hubert Wright, 53, of Grand Bay but was freed for want of prosecution.
Wright’s partly decomposing body was found in a shallow grave in Savanne Paille on November 8, 2016 around 6:30 pm.
The matter appeared numerous times before the court but prosecutors asked several times for adjournments, saying they were waiting for forensic evidence from Jamaica.
In February a final adjournment date was given for March 1 but the prosecution was unable to provide the evidence from Jamaica.
Magistrate Ally Gill slammed the prosecution, saying if another adjournment was given, it would clearly be an abuse of process.
Abraham’s attorney, Wayne Norde said there has been no disclosure and no witnesses have presented themselves in the matter.
He asked the court to dismiss the matter since the prosecution had breached several of the court’s orders.
Abraham, who was behind bars for almost two years, then walked out of the court a free man.
The majority of commentaries here are missing the point made apparent to us by this and many other situations like this. This speaks of the severe defficiencies within our judicial system in Dominica. We have two main problems which need remedying and these are 1. The need to start filling position with competent and capable people and 2. There is dire need for modernization. At this stage we cannot depend on eyewitnesses and the likes anymore, but need to go the forensics way. It is not What you think or feel transpired, it’s the story told by the evidence and the unequivocal link to a suspect which will lead to convictions.
Additionally, the statements criticizing Mr Norde are asinine. Our court system is an adversarial one with Mr Norde on on side and the state on the other. The state’s failure to do its work can’t be blamed on Mr. Norde. It’s like telling a team to forfeit it’s chance at a victory because it came to the realization that the opponent did not prepare…
Sufficiently for the encounter. As for the God party we as believers know that omnipresent nature of God ensures that nothing escapes him and as such every living being will account for their transgressions. However, remember that this is totally separate from the legal system of any state. Government needs to get with the times. A review of our areas of priority for study abroad is necessary.
No proof no case I would like to know when check hall valley getting lights
All Dominica’s institutions are failing. As far as I am concerned, Dominica is a failing state. Period!
wayne norde your time will come!!!!!
The gentleman’s profession as a lawyer is to work on behalf of his clients. If the state cannot prove that the defendant is guilty then why should the lawyer of the defendant not ask for the case to be thrown out. The state needs to do its job properly. For far too long alot of cases are getting thrown out because of that nonsense. All them lawyers representing the state and this nonsense still happens. The right blast them for failing to comply.
These acquits have to do with poor work by the CID, no wonder so many murders are free on the streets.
the CID did not investigate this case.
Whether he committed a crime or not is between him and the Almighty. The point is the justice system could not find him guilty and meanwhile he has spent two years in prison. Who is going to compensate him for that.
God will compensate him for the time spent in jail.
You UWP people are so bitter and sickening it’s not funny. A man went through the courts. Same courts that was there under Mary Eugenia Charles and those before her, Same court that was there for their beloved Edison James, Now some how is Skerritt fault the guy was acquited. What are the major changes this government made to the Justice system now from previous governments which directly had an impact on this guy’s case for you all to be on Skerritt case so. SMH Bitter!!!
UWP? REALLY what uwp has to do with this case, the only person that is bitter and sick is you .The DPP NEEDS A COMPLETE OVERHAUL
Clearly you must be playing blind my comment was made based on other comments on the there seeking to bring Skerritt and govt in the mix stop feigning ignorance
How many times must I write that Dominica has no DPP ?
Prosecutors are police defense are attorneys. The state of Dominica is being cheated of having an equal fight in nustice. Men who cannot gove a statement in court dumb as hell are promoted to sarge and Commish. Its about time the state restructure the pay scale and hire some trained lawyers as cops or cops who can pass the bar so we can at least have a perception of competency.
waiting for forensic from Jamaica for 2 years? what a joke! well better all u put Norde back in DPP I have never seen the prosecution lose so many cases…
or mayb it’s not DPP…. CID not doing there work… something wrong somewhere
You so right CId ain’t doing their damn job.thats why we have so may criminals going free. I always say when it reach home they will not wait on Jamaica. The same moment everything will go thru. Let the judge lawyer police chief pm etc family be the victim and trust me no man going free.
CID was not the department investigating that murder. Get your facts
Skerro said Dominica has no laws, everybody is getting away with murder, the courts system has gone to the DOGS sorry but that’s the fACT.
Are you really serious? I’m ashamed to call Dominica my homeland. This is a grave injustice.. Dominica seems to be the land where petty thieves are thrown to the wolves where as murderers stone cold killers are given a three course meal with all the trimmings .. This is absurd….. No wonder Dominica has such a high crime rate..
What is Dominica’s crime rate?? when you have found that out as a documented fact, compare it to that of neighboring islands. Your statement is fallible. There is crime everywhere in the world.
Be careful what you say. The crime rate is calculated based on the population. Its most likely that D/a’s population is less than fifty thousand. Experts have corrected our illusion that our crime rate is low in D/ca. Compared to the populatios of neighbouring islands we have a really small population thus a high crime rate.
In the eyes of man he is free, but if he did killed the man in Gods eyes he is not free and the man’s blood is all over hands for the rest of his life.
Dominica law system need to update.so many fellas should still be behind bars. Especially the man from the dred movement that kidnapped Mr. Honeychurch then killed him back in the days.