The case of a teenager being tried as an adult on a charge of wounding with intent was one of the matters brought to the fore when the January 2012 Criminal Assizes got underway at the High Court in Roseau on Tuesday.
William Valmond, who turns 17 next month, was charged with the crime when he was 15.
His lawyer Darius Jones appealed to Justice Brian Cottle to have Valmond tried as a juvenile.
High Court judge Cottle responded that such an application was something the court would be willing to consider.
Valmond, who is charged with the 4th March 2010 wounding of Chad Joseph, pleaded not guilty.
He is in custody, and attorney Jones made a case for him for bail.
The judge said it was very unusual for a teenager not to be able to find someone, a family member or someone else to stand him bail.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Gene Pestaina informed the court that the accused had been granted bail on two occasions, and that the sureties gave up on both occasions.
The case is to be tried later in the assizes.
There are other cases involving teenagers expected to be tried during the current assizes.
One of them is that of 17-year-old Julian Gussie, accused of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.
Gussie who is on remand, pleaded not guilty.
He had been bailed initially but the surety is reported to have died.
In keeping with a request from his lawyer Wayne Norde, DPP Pestaina said he had no objections to Gussie’s parents standing him bail.
The Judge consented to a request for the initial bail amount to be lowered to EC$5000.00
Other teenagers before the high court at this time include two 19 year olds who are part of a group of four charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
The four are accused of attacking Aaron Carbon in December of 2009 at Giraudel.
All four – 19 year olds Kester Timothy and Rickel Peter, along with Claudius Guye and Malcolm Sandy, entered not guilty pleas.
i feel so sad for william … so young to have done that… but then again i feel even more sad for the chad…
what a sad situation for our youth these days … people please pray for them
Wow..this William person might be related to me. As my last name is Valmond also, I have plenty family in DA, my father is from Castle Bruce and my mom from Calibishie. I hope that these young men get their lives together before its too late. As for william, if you are a relative of mine..I wish you the best.
omg cant belive that myfrens on dis i really wanna cry right now i can die i wanna come home cuz my frens and faimly aint goin down like dat hell no
and your point is?
Man the court system in Dominica is just waaaaayyyy too slow.
All these cases are about incidents of two or three years ago, that is just too much time. So much could have happened between now and then that could affect the outcome of justice.
No wonder people have little confidence in the court system in Dominica.
I tell you guys what you should do already to prevent this sought of things….start passing licks like crazy….do NT spear the child….and we will have a crime free Dominica by the year 2030
ok …dunskat