The High Court of Justice Criminal Assizes will soon be held throughout the entire year under a new Criminal Division system, according to the resident Judge Justice Birnie Stephenson-Brooks of Guyana.
Speaking at the closing of the January Criminal Assizes last week Judge Brooks who was assigned to preside over these assizes, expects the new system to be introduced by September or October 2010.
It will consist of the passing of Criminal Division rules, which will involve superintendents and the administration of prisons in the day –to-day running of the Criminal Court.
Judge Brooks said that the Criminal Division system will introduce video linking among other technological advancements in the courts.
Judge Brooks presided over the latter part of the January Criminal Assizes, replacing Justice Brian Cottle of St. Vincent. She took up residence here, presiding over local Civil Courts since October 2009 as a second resident judge.
The recently appointed judge was brought to Dominica following a request by Prime Minister Roosevelt to the Chief Justice for a second resident judge to help ease a backlog of caveat cases that were existing over the courts for a long period of time.
It was 4 years before my wife’s, Kathleen Giles, assailants were brought to the court in Dominica and because it took so long only 1 of the 4 accused were convicted and sentenced.
This cannot be right, so it is good to see that some efforts are being made to bringreal justice to Dominica.
It would also be helpful to the victims of crime if they could be informed of the offenders apperance in court and of the sentance.
Perhaps the Dominican Goverment could also consider the consequence’s of assults on tourists both to the island and to the victims.
well thats a good thing man
cases does take to long before they start man in our system but that sin sounding like an irrie sin.
THIS MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. IT IS VERY DEPRESSING THAT MATTERS TAKE SO LONG TO BE HEARD.
EVEN WHEN THEY ARE HEARD….SATISFACTORY JUDGEMENTS ARE OFTEN NOT GIVEN. THIS IS BECAUSE THE MATTERS HAVE BEEN PENDING FOR SO LONG THAT EVIDENCE MAY BE CONTAMINATED, WITNESSES MAY HAVE LOST CREDIBILITY OR FACTS BECOME VAGUE OR TWISTED.
THE TIME HAS COME FOR US TO DEAL WITH THESE CASES PROMPTLY……LET WRONG DOERS KNOW THAT AS SOON AS THEY EVEN THINK OF DOING THEIR DEEDS THEY WILL FACE JUSTICE AND LET THOSE WRONGLY ACCUSED SPEND LESS TIME IN MISERY AND SHAME.
We need more local judges.
Nice. forward ever, backs never.