January criminal assizes open to packed court

A packed court, where lawyers and accused persons took centre stage, witnessed the 2012 opening of the January Criminal Assizes before Justice Brian Cottle on Tuesday January 24, 2012.

Of the 30 matters slated for trial all those about to be tried entered “not guilty” pleas before Justice  Cottle.

Albert Steven Jr. who is charged  with attempted murder is expected to be the first person to have his matter heard on February 13, 2012.

Steven is on $50,000 bail and had his matter traversed from the last assizes in 2011.

He is represented by  attorney Gina Dyer Munro.

Another accused, Shane Degallerie is facing a murder charge, while Stebin Valentine is being tried for manslaughter.

Kenrick Tyson has a murder charge to answer to, Kiwani Jackson wounding with intent, Charbert Alexander theft and David St. John murder.

They will all have to return to court next month to have their matters heard.

Among the murder trials is that of a Soufriere family alleged to have beaten their brother Harrison Williams to death.

On September 24th 2010, at Soufriere, Lauretta and Herbert Xavier and Manuella Williams, who were involved in an altercation with their brother, have been charged with causing his death.

Herbert Xavier is represented by attorney Wayne Norde while Lauretta Xavier is represented by Dawn Yearwood Stewart; Roland Charles is the lawyer for Manuella Williams.

The assizes have been adjourned by Justice Cottle to February 13, 2012 when Justice Bernie Stephenson Brooks is expected to be the presiding Judge.

Prosecuting the cases in the current assizes is Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Gene Pestaina.

He is being assisted by State attorney Artlene Nesty.

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9 Comments

  1. Anoymous
    January 28, 2012

    Which charbert is that?

  2. Dr Birdie
    January 26, 2012

    Please Please bring back the DEATH PENALTY I am appealing to the Judge sentence to death those two foot monsters the jury’s should have no face remember Gods Word said the murderer should not go un punnished they should be hanged hanging is right and nothing wrong with it Killing is wrong and killers should be killed by the law so when the law fail to hang killers they are against GOD.When those two so called prists Cuffy and Jolly say abolish hanging dont listen to them listen to the word of God those fellars there are a bunch of hyprocrits they have no children to fill the pains of the murderers so they dont care.left to me they can go to hell but hang those evil criminals those lawyers defending them should be put to death also remember in the book of luke JESUS curse those lawyers so a lawyer is a cursed person theu only after money that is their god.

  3. BRAIN DAMAGE
    January 26, 2012

    Have the gallows well lubricated.

  4. Anonymous
    January 25, 2012

    Charbert ALexander I hope is not the christian boy eh,,,

  5. Devoted Dominican
    January 25, 2012

    TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM OF DOMINICA, HOW MANY OF THE ABOVE CRIMINALS WILL BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC ROADS OF DOMINICA JUST TO BE ABLE TO RE-COMMIT THE SAME MALICIOUS CRIMES AGAIN? I SAY ALL OF THEM. FOR THE WHOLE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS SO CROCKED AND CORRUPTED. THE ONLY ONES WHO GETS THE SATISFACTIONS OF CRIME IN DOMINICA ARE THE DON’T CARE ATTORNEYS. WHEN IS THIS GOING TO STOP?

  6. court
    January 25, 2012

    bad people :twisted: 8-O :evil:

  7. beenie
    January 25, 2012

    make sure they are all hanged. :mrgreen:

    • January 25, 2012

      @ Beenie

      I did not see any of your comment for the child murderer she played the system and is out on the street walking freely in Canada, she deserve the same as well

      • agreed
        January 26, 2012

        Agree totally. Sarah Augustine has set a bad precedent in Dominica. And has given other women foolish ideas. Recently a young woman here was angry with her ex boyfriend and threatened to kill his one year old baby.

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