A nine-member jury has concluded that a Grand Fond man accused of killing his father is competent to stand trial on the murder charge after questions were raised about his mental health.
Following a fitness hearing held at the High Court this week, on March 22, 2023, the eight-woman, one-man jury decided that the murder trial of Dorian Daley should proceed in the court, as they saw him as having a rational and factual understanding of the legal proceedings.
Dorian is accused of killing his father Murray Daley between January 9, 2017, and February 21, 2017.
The 62-year-old man is said to have sustained multiple injuries to his head and neck allegedly inflicted upon him by his then 23-year-old son. Following the alleged incident on January 9, 2017, Murray Daley was admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital until his death on February 21st, 2017.
A Coroner’s inquest was convened and as a result, on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, Daley was charged with the alleged murder of his father.
When the matter came for hearing at the High court, Dorian’s attorneys told the court that he is not fit to stand trial.
The court ordered a psychiatric evaluation and jurors this week listened to evidence from three medical personnel who assessed the accused mental state.
Before the jury retired for deliberation, resident High Court Judge, Justice Richard Floyd advised them that they must satisfy themselves that the accused lacks decision-making capacity before they determine whether he can stand trial.
The judge also reminded them that the doctors who examined Dorian did not say he could not stand trial.
Succeeding their deliberation, the jury returned with a unanimous decision that the accused was fit to stand trial.
The court set May 15, 2023, as the commencement date of the murder trial. Dorian Daley is represented by defense counsel Darius Jones and Peter Alleyne of the legal aid clinic.
If the father died within a year and a day because of the injury inflicted on him by the son,he may be charged with murder.