Police Constable Ransom Frederick is now on $50,000.00 bail following charge of attempted murder preferred against him by the police.
Frederick first appeared before the Roseau Magistrate Court on July 14, 2022, where the charge was read to him. The accused was not required to enter a plea as the matter is an indictable offense and is expected to be heard at the High Court before a judge and jury.
The Sineku man is charged for the attempted murder of Glennie Bruney of 13 River Street, Roseau.
Reports indicate that in the wee hours of July 9, 2022, at River Street, Bruney was shot four (4) times.
In Frederick’s second court appearance, today July 15, 2022, his attorneys Wayne Norde and Gina Abraham-Thomas put forward a bail application on his behalf.
In his submission to the court, Norde pleaded with presiding Magistrate Michael Laudat to grant bail to his clients “for his own protection.”
According to the defense attorney, Frederick has been attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for the past five years which he deemed as “high risk.”
“During his employment at CID, he has dealt with numerous people some of whom are awaiting trial at the prison and there are pending matters of threats to the life of the defendant by some of the persons who are on remand,” Norde said.
As such, Norde stated, it would not be in the interest of justice to deny bail to his client and remand him at the Dominica State Prison.
In his application, he vowed that should bail be granted to his client, Frederick will surrender to the court on days required, will not interfere with witnesses, and will not commit any offenses while on bail.
However, Magistrate Laudat told the attorney that he did not address nor satisfy the court on section 7 (2)(e) of the bail act, the public’s interest.
Laudat posited that the court has taken a dim view of the wanton use of firearms in a number of offenses as of late.
“The community should walk the streets of Dominica and feel at ease. So Mr. Norde, please speak to me on that section of the bail act. How is it in the public’s interest to grant bail to your client?” the Magistrate asked.
Norde responded that the alleged offense that the officer stands charged for is different from other firearm-related offenses.
He told the court that the firearm used, was a government-issued licensed firearm and Frederick is a trained firearm user.
“He did not flee the scene after the incident, he remained there and immediately surrendered the firearm to the officers on the scene,” the attorney averred. “So this matter should not be connected or compared to other matters of gun violence or revenge crimes.”
State attorney attached to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Daina Matthew, did not object to bail but she told the court that the prosecution appreciates the posture of the court in interpreting the seriousness of the offense of attempted murder as seriously as murder under the bail act.
“Though as noted by the defense counsel the gun used was not unlicensed, it was still used by an officer of the court who was supposed to protect the public from harm and not cause harm,” the attorney declared.
Nevertheless, she said the prosecution appreciates the criteria that the accused is a police officer and his safety at the prison may be compromised.
In handing down his decision, Magistrate Laudat said notwithstanding the prosecution’s no objection to bail, section four of the new bail act stipulates that bail is not a right and the discretion lies solely in the hands of the presiding Magistrate on whether or not bail should be granted.
In exercising his discretion Laudat stated that consideration was given to section 6 (2) of the bail act which states that the court shall have regard for the nature and seriousness of the offense, the character and community ties of the defendant; the defendant’s record in respect of the fulfillment of his obligations under previous grants of bail and the length of time the defendant would spend in custody of the court were the defendant bail to be refused bail.
“The accused is a first-time offender and after great consideration, the court finds that it is not in the public’s interest to deny bail to the accused. As a police officer, the court will not put his life at risk.”
Bail was granted to Frederick in the sum of $50,000.00 with Elisha Laurent as his surety.
As part of his bail conditions, the accused is not to interfere with any of the state witnesses; surrender all his travel documents to the court prior to his release; live an honest and industrious life, and not re-offend while on bail; not change his address without first informing the court and not leave the jurisdiction of the court without first applying for permission to do so.
Frederick’s bail condition states further that he should report to the Salybia police station every Monday between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Breach of any of these conditions will result in the revocation of his bail.
This is my final comment on this particular article. It is so outrageous that I felt compelled to comment multiple times.
Many citizens have expressed alarm at the brutal and tyrannical behaviour of the out of control ‘police’. They are supposed to maintain law & order but are some of the most lawless people. In fact, they should be officially designated as OUTLAWS.
When I recall what they did to the bus driver, I am still in shock. They acted like a shoal of hungry sharks engaging in a frenzied meal. As I watched in awe, I told myself that these guys have totally lost their humanity. They acted like beasts, not humans.
When the relevant authorities fail to condemn such acts of brutality; when the citizenry remains nonchalant and indifferent, the country descends into mob rule and a free-for-all.
$75,000.00 bail and imprisonment and severe humiliation for Thompson Fontaine for a bogus charge. Here is an attempted murder charge for just for $50k and luxury accommodation. luckily that the Kapinski hotel is not in Roseau. He would definitely be accommodated at the hotel. Dominicans just taking all of these BS and just talk in repetition on the no input Matt Peltier radio station. total bs.
So if and when de officer found to be guilty, will he not be going to Stockfarm….
I doubt it. They might put him into the dungeons under Skerrits palace. That way nobody can touch him.
Bwa- Banday,if you want to say something get a photograph from one of the police officers who went to Grenada in 1983.They returned to Dominica in 1984 and were trained by the 82nd Airborne 7th Special Forces from Fort Bragg,North Carolina.These guys were the Police/Soldiers.The only name you mention is Supt Nicholas George.When the people of Marigot blocked the public road and set it on fire,when they assaulted the Archbishop and Bishop,when they extorted money from people by threatening to cut off their heads,Asp,Claude Weeks was in charge of the police,and was on the spot.Asp,Claude Weeks did nothing.
To hell with the Bishop and the Archbishop! You keep on regurgitating the some story over and over again. What’s your point, you red nose ….?
The Arch Bishop wasnt assaulted. Stop telling lies. Noone walking the streets from the airport or otherwise was assaulted. If so that would have been reported. Mr. Weeks acted accordingly and ensured that even though there was unrest, that the Arch Bishop was in no immediate danger. Stop telling lies in a public forum.
Ok so he has to get bail because of his safety at the prison, so what if he is convicted of the crime? no care of his safety then? will he get special treatment?
Interesting…i’ll follow this case closely
Bona fide police officers protect the lives of citizens, residents, visitors and their property. Thugs brutalize, maim, kill and destroy.
In recent times, law enforcement officers have bludgeoned Kerwin Prosper to a pulp, brutalized a bus driver and an old lady, kidnapped a sitting parliamentarian, arrested citizens on bogus charges, et cetera.
I wrote all of this to make this point. These people are not police, they perfectly fit the definition of thugs. The present police service should be purged with immediacy. They have lost the respect and confidence of the citizenry.
Very well said again comrade! The good old days of “true” police officers like Inspector Joseph Challenger Alias Poe from C/Bruce), Supt. Nicholas George, The Ferdinand Brothers (Satan and Pull-through) from Delices, Insp. Hillaire (Alias Theft Act), Insp. St. Rose (Hunter’ dad), Sgt. Williams (alias Federico- from Delices) etc are over.
The few good ones left like ASP. Weekes are handcuffed because they refuse to be part of the Toton-Macoute serving the DLP cabal. But, time will tell because the day or reckoning is on the horizon. The police force of today cannot continue in that downward spiral. There needs to be a purge at the command structure and a total realignment. And believe me, we have the local talent to do it.
Only the mercy of the Almighty why the victim is alive today. Not once, not twice, but four times this man was shot! This trigger-happy outlaw deserves no leniency nor mercy as he showed none to his victim.
Residents have long complained bitterly about overreaction and brutality of these thugs in police uniforms. But their impassioned pleas have fallen on deaf ears of those in authority. This is fast becoming a typical day in Dominica.
On a daily basis, Dominicans are confronted by rapists, child molesters, thieves, murderers, and an uncaring, parasitic, tapeworm GOVERNMENT that figuratively lives in the intestines of tax payers.