Former Acting Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), Sir Brian Alleyne, has weighed in on the circulation of alleged private legal documents in a high-profile case involving men facing allegations of inappropriate behavior involving a minor.
The documents were reportedly leaked and have been spreading through social media like a wildfire. However, DNO cannot independently confirm whether they are authentic or not.
Needless to say, Alleyne believes the documents, if authentic, could prejudice the case.
He said the allegations in the matter are indictable and are to be tried before a judge and jury, pointing out that the documents could undermine the integrity of the case and stir prejudice among jurors who are to be of clear mind when delivering a verdict.
“I don’t know anything about the particular case, but what I would say is, if in a criminal trial before a jury, material is leaked, is made public, that could prejudice the minds of the jurors one way or the other, that might undermine the integrity of the case,” he said on privately-owned Q95’s The Hot Seat on Monday. “And, it may cause, one, an innocent person to be convicted; or, two, a guilty person to be exonerated because vital evidence is undermined. It’s prejudiced.”
The case has to do with three high-profile men who are facing allegations of inappropriate behaviour involving a minor. Two are on bail of $15,000 while another was granted bail in the sum of $75,000.
if she was my child some body would pay not by law but to hell
It is leaked. Someone who resides in Toronto telephoned me and asked, “Did you hear what is happening in D/ca?” The person heard it from D/ca. I have yet to make a call to D/ca. I was waiting when it is closer to Easter to make a few calls. This news is traveling faster than the wind could blow and lightning could flash.
I have written immensely about these arrests and charges on DNO. When the person informed me about it, I replied, I have provided my comment on this Website. Now that I heard, it is exactly as I have felt and still feel.
Let me inform you further. I have stated previously on this Website the name of the “Convent” High School should be changed. It is a scandal that those teenagers are doing this sort of thing and carrying on as they do. They are no innocent children. They know more than adults know. They also give the CHS a bad name.
It is shocking though what is occurring in D/ca. We agreed children were once children. Not today.
I did state on a previous article they are the temptresses, using men and looking for money. I have no empathy for them. They should be reprimanded.
Likewise the men for encouraging them. They should also be reprimanded. Note that the men are now in trouble with the Law.
As some people will say: QUASH THESE DARN CASES!”
Tell the mothers to counsel their teenage girls. The mothers themselves need to be counseled.
Leave the PM and the churches alone. While I have my opinion about certain churches, In this case, their leaders should not consider their church to have failed.
No matter how much some people hear the Word of God, you will preach to them until doomsday, they will not pay heed. They will continue with their lifestyle. Why blame yourselves? It is futile.
If those teenagers continue with that lifestyle and they become adults, they are doomed. They are no good example to their peers, younger or older.
As one who attended the Convent High School in those days, a disciplined one which was operated by the Sisters (Mothers) of St. Augustine, from what I have been hearing, some of those teenagers today are a scandal. For some years now I have been hearing about their bad conduct. It is shocking. These do not deserve to be attending a “Convent” High School.
If any of the Nuns are alive, God bless them. They will be shocked what this school and some of the students are like today. Those who died must be rolling in their graves. RIP.
They did an excellent job of teaching and disciplining. In those days parents cooperated with them. Those who attended the CHS in those days are obviously different from those who attend it today. What a change! How sad and shocking. It makes me angry.
If the allegations of a leak and exposure of the victims statement is true then it\’s an indictment on the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force. Never in the history of this Honorable institution have we witnessed the demise of it\’s morale fabric to the point where trust issues have become so critical. Any blame or accusations leveled at the CDPF must be borne by its members until and except the contrary is proved. Never in the history of the CDPF have we seen so much politicization where hard working individuals have been marginalized; how long must this situation be allowed to continue is anyone\’s guess; but my advise to those in uniform and who took the Oath of office to serve the citizens of Dominica you may just be digging your own graves to allow politicians to determine where your allegiance lie; politicians come and go but the CDPF will always remain.
JJ, can you remember who decapitated the top brass of the CDPF back in 1996? In one fell swoop the Commissioner, his deputy and third in command along with other senior officers were asked to take leave with immediate effect. In quick time other officers (Darroux, Alfred et al) physically moved up the ranks to replace the departed officers. The Commissioner and his deputy were later removed from office with no explanation and without due process. The rest is history. The tax payers had to bear a huge bill for wrongful dismissal. Johnathan St. Jean cannot forget that sorry episode. The problems with the police started there. But the police must bear full responsibility for leaking the statements – whether intentionally or not. There is too much slackness in the force. But then our police officer are recruited form among us. If they are corrupt, the society is must shoulder the responsibility.
i give up.how much more can Dominicans accept as “so it is”our ancestors did not toil and suffer inhumane treatment for their offspring”us” to swallow more and more injustice..culture said”where are all the Rasta man” i say where are all the “neg maroons”
dotish we all dotish.
and imagine de PM not saying a word on that.
Was he the one to break the story in the media and to leak the docs?
i say this statement was leaked to get the men freed, technicallity
FORKIT what the h*** is wrong with people like you?
So who are you? This person stated what is in his mind. Allow people their views.
Share the video with the US embassy and he will be can be extradited and charged as pedophile.
this is a wilful attempt that came from the top , we all know that ,it is time we stop pretending, just look at the silence among the people who is responsible,
i keep saying, coming events cast shadows
and, not all donkeys ,are asses
But it’s true what Sir Alleyne says. How can a jury impartially try a case when all of the so-called evidence is out there in cyberspace?
From day one I told my sister those cases are not going anywhere. A sensitive matter like that, those photos should NEVER have been leaked.
These days in our haste to put everything online, we don’t even realize we are obstructing justice in and of itself.
So, let’s move on and learn from this.
Why are we blowing this so much out of porportion? Yes there was a leak and it needs to be investigated but by no means is the case over. The judge will just have a harder time selecting a jury. This happens worldwide. We have seen high profile cases in the States and over countries where certain crimes get over saturated in the public domain. Evidence do leak out but at the end of the day we have seen the legal system in other countries still have the burden to find an impartial juror. We act like this is the first time. And if the case does get thrown out, then this sets a precedence, that if anybody commits a crime in Dominica then you can just pay someone to leak the evidence and the case gets dismiss. Just a whole lot of talk garbage sometimes I wonder if we listen to cnn, fox news, msnbc, bbc
Its not anybody who leaked the evidence. If the essentials of the case is out in cyberspace, then it becomes very difficult to get an impartial jury. A jury that is made up of people who have not been tainted by what is in cyberspace. Whilst in a bigger country, with millions of people, we may be able to get an impartial jury, we love on a small rock with a very small population. There are few people who have not seen the alleged statement. Those who have not seen it are those who care less about seeing it or who are outraged that their “good” work of bringing the “pigs” to justice has gone down the drain. Mr. Alleyne did not have to tell me that. I received the said document on Friday night and I knew then and there that the case was lost. No wonder we have a request in the High Court for a judicial review of the procedures used in arriving at the decision to proffer charges on the high profile men. Shame…
It is also true that the radio station which leaked the news at first (Breaking News) did a great job in exposing the individuals involved. Then add the social media – “Dominica Politics”, “Mas in De Cemetery”. all controlled by known and very vocal operatives of the opposition UWP to which Mr. Alleyne is a critical supporter. On those blogs, there were pictures and people’s names were called aplenty. According to the above blogs, one of the high profile individuals had a warrant out for his immediate arrest. But he was in France and Aruba. He was also seen in Miami. All in the space of seven days.
idiot
According to the DNO article, ”Alleyne believes the documents, if authentic, could prejudice the case.”
DNO, it is not the documents per se that would prejudice the case. It is the unauthorised circulation of the documents in the public arena that could prejudice the case. Please report what the learned jurist has actually said.
Mr. Alleyne Q95 has already done a great job in prejudicing that case, they have run it for 3 full weeks and by now every Dominican knows exactly who the perpetrators are, names are being called in the circles and that was long before the documents were leaked!!!!!!!
Bloggers on here are all of the opinion that all three men are GUILTY AS CHARGED for them there should be NO going to Court just send them straight jail!!!!!
But Mr. Alleyne you know that the presumption is ‘You are Innocent until proven Guilty in a COURT OF LAW’ not a Court of PUBLIC OPINION!!!!!!!! everyone is entitle to a FAIR TRIAL!!!!!! But Q has already tried the perpetrators and found them guilty so we won’t get nuetral jurors on that case at all, so the victim won’t get the justice, and that’s my problem!!!!!!!
no name was called. stop your lying… sort
All this pissing about to bring high profile … to trial is now becoming a game ,in order to acquit these men.I am certain that if these men were not high profile as you have stated they would have been sleeping in stock farm while people in the public are pointing fingers at their family. This case is money talking no juror’s talk. We need a revolution in Dominica in order to turn this injustice table up side down because sooner or later their will be blood shed because it is not every family would will accept what is happening. People are killing,raping,assulting, the poor people and no power in the system in Dominica is capable of giving any form of consolation, although I’m sure that there are more poor people voting. Now it takes a simple injury then get a huge amount of money as compensation to make you prominent to give you all the right on God’s earth to rape ,spoil and abuse people that cannot defend themselves totally. What is good for the goose is good for the…
I will say it time and time again. there is NO professionalism in the public service and many private sector establishments here. A man gets arrested or charged, before he is out everyone knows who is in the cell and what they are charged for. How the police themselves coming and look to see and run and tell their people on the street. you go to the hospital for an exam or a test, or maybe even just to bring food for someone, the nurses and admin staff selling out your business. The bankers talk about your finances and how much money you deposit or have in your account. Dominicans have NO SENSE OF CONFIDENTIALITY OR PROFESSIONALISM ON THE JOB. We like to talk about everyone and everyone’s business like its our favorite pass time. Investigate them and charge all of them that involved from the officer who took the statements to the file clerk to prosecutor to the police chief. send all of them to court. suck a high profile case and you acting like little children so to run and pong…
Makes no sense. A statement to the courts have to be signed and an oath taken. What we have seen clearly wasn’t signed. This is a preconceived attempt to derail justice.
Thank you Sir Alleyne for bringing in this to our attention. Assuming that leaking such documents is a crime, I look forward to the Police announcement that they are also investigating this.
If we allow this to be thrown out due to a technicality then we allow Democracy in Dominica to cease. We as citizens need to be watchful and be prepared to take to the streets. Here is more at stake than just a court case. Our constitution is being ‘tested’ here.
There is a voice in the wilderness shouting; “What are you all doing to my children? Where there is no justice there will be no peace!” That’s the voice of Ma Dominica.
Dominicans, we were warned by people like Angelo, Blessings, Arandale, Lennox, Thompson and others that we are being lead to the slaughter by the “Indian Duckter” and his cabal but we failed to take note. Now our future, yes the children of our land are being violated by men in high places who are bent on getting away with no matter what the cost. We cannot allow that to happen. Time for action, time for mass protest, time for the DLP Cabal to go!
Always Assertive & Pissed Now!
So how come they did not leak out the statements of their colleagues to prejudice their case? To me this looks fishy.
How long has been Minor/Child abuse have been going on in Dominica? It was only when some guilty persons were named something began to happen. All along ‘High Ranking’ individuals were free to carry out the abuse of minors. Dominica has now become another corrupt nation. Those who claim to stand by the side of justice have done nothing to protect our children. When Lennox Linton informed the nation the attitude of Government ministers. El Supremo and Astaphans were quick to talk about lawsuit. Why? Because LL struck the nerve. Now the case involving children is coming under scrutiny. Why didn’t the law protect our children long time ago? The whole system is corrupt and we must do something to stop all this .
This case would be thrown out whether documents are leaked or not….
Hey
We have millions to spend on everything else
why not import a full jury from outside Da ,randomly chosen persons from different Countries
I’m sure they will enjoy that holiday .
Money well spent for assured justice .
Amen
I believe that an independent group of high profile investigators from a foreign establishmentare to be hired to investigate not only the police department but also ALL attorneys and their departments involved in this case. Computers, telephones, scanners, and all other materials that can provide some evidence should be seized and thoroughly scrutinized. If the police welfare association is 100% that its officers are not to blame then it should demand such investigation. And if any one in higher position should stall its move then one should be aware that there is a smelling rat. This is total foolishness and some people must be made to pay for this act. More than one person is responsible. Unfortunately the small and innocent fish shall be chastised while the big fishes who are aware of demise of those small ones will be laughing away. We cant allow this to go down to yonder. No way
In cases like these we need to be more responsible. We want justice in this case so stop spreading leaked evidence and let the case take its course. Please do not let our emotions take over.
On the flip side too maybe whoever leaked it was intentional to delay or damage the case. I do not put anything past people who have power, money and connections in Dominica. After all some of the decisions in this case so far is clearly to represent the accused. Hope this child gets justice.
it is just sad and unfortunate that this has happen . am i really to believe that you can call crime stopper and remain anonymous ?
I can see this becoming an excuse to throw the case out of court. One law for the poor, and another for the rich and powerful.
But God never sleeps and never closes His eyes.
I can see Dominicans’ ignorance radiating from this comment with all the likes. Always quick to place the blame on someone or something but NEVER stop to think about how they contributed to whatever it is. I can bet each person who liked this comment read and spread the leaked docs then they come and complain about “no justice” and “this is an excuse.” They never say that they contributed to this mess and the same injustice by reading and spreading info about the case. The damn man is right. This can cause PREJUDICE and that can harm the outcome of the case. It is a fact, not an excuse. What you all need to do is STOP spreading information about the damn case if y’all want justice! Smdh
Also, there should be an investigation to find out who leaked the docs and the person should be prosecuted.
Boi look comesss… I doe want none of my fmilly to join that coshony… Those young police men if i wete u i would try my best to leave that nonsense
wahou !!! that was super fast !! guys , case close!!!! Next !!
It is called “pre trial publicity” and i smell a bigggggg rat.
just another trick in the trade.
Let’s face it…the majority of the time especially when its a high profile case many persons who will obviously hear about a particular case will obviously come with their pre existing attitudes beliefs and biases,,come on we are all human,,,do you actually think that all jurors have a clear mind when they hear a case? The answer is noooooo…I can understand that the documents should not have been leaked however the fact remains that before the guys were arrested news had spread like wild fire and some even thought that there would be no arrests,,so before their was any arrests persons saw videos and formed opinions,,,the case will go on,,,
if what is alleged has taken place, in my opinion that would be unfortunate, and would denie justice as we know it for bothe the accused, and alleged victim{s} in such a case, lets await the facts as it relates to this and any case. But do not rule out any thing cause desperate times calls for desperate actions. Lets hope that justice delayed is not justice Denied. Hope and pray and leave the concesequences to God, he is the ultimate Judge and the supreme equalizer.
If it true and enquiry should be immediate ly lunch yo see n how it was leak. Come on Prime Minister and the justice minister we need answer if this is true.. I will always say Dominica us a lawless place .
Where is it circulated? I have not read anything about what occurred, when, where, what time and date. Not on DNO anyway.
I do not have time to search such avenues. So where is this information leaked that others are aware of?
In any case, Dominica is a small place and some people will be aware of what occurred. My confidence in this case is NIL. Probably much ado about nothing.
Sweet Dominica, where did we go wrong, that we allow a few to harm Ma Dominique so seriously? We no longer have a morale compass to lead. Instead, everything that was once wrong, illegal, dishonest, untrue is now the opposite. Are we for real?
Welcome to the new world Former Acting Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), Sir Brian Alleyne,
Gone are the days when it would be leaked to a selected few. Like back in your youth. Things have changed. Isis don’t worry with guilty or not. They’ll cut ur throat. Many a poor D/can got hung back in the day why not put those suckers where they belong?
That’s the new deal
This act of sabotage just boils my behind. It was clearly intended to prejudice the case and this behavior cannot be allowed to go on. Where are the demonstrations in the street? Our very democracy is under threat and we as a nation are sitting on our hands as if all is well.
The CDPF Chief and all those in CID with access to this file MUST proceed on immediate leave pending a full investigation. We need to shutdown the dam country. blockade the ministry bldg and the financial center until our demands are met. Enough is enough! Ladies, girls, fathers, christians shut down the country before its too late. All women organizations MUST combine their effort and move. Don’t wait on the opposition. You have the power, its NOT politics, its about justice for our children, our future. I am ticked off!!
Assertive, Aggressive & Pissed!
Shameless why don’t you shut down your……………………………………….. BOSS IF YOU HATE THE COUNTRY GET THE HELL OUT OF IT SIMPLE AS THAT!!!!!! The OECS is one country now so you can live and work in anyone without work permit so there you have an option…
STOP PREACHING HATRED IN OUR BEAUTIFUL BLESSED ISLAND IN YOUR
Wow, I see the truth offends the guilty ones Imagine that!
God bless you son and please remove the red glasses and have a good look at an innocent child. Then, tell me why are we so tolerant and passive when their innocense and trust in adults is violated. Please sir, help me protect our children instead of attacking me for seeking justice for our future leaders.
Always Assertive!
i totally agree!!!!!!!!! let’s rally in the street!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh you know the difference between right and wrong? What about the killing of the innocent boy? Why didn’t you come out and say something? Mind me .. I’m not saying that theses documents should have be leaked.
Whenever reports made to the Police by any citizen, worse yet by a minor in such an abominable child sexual molestation case,, are leaked out, then one could easily conclude that there is a serious breach of trust.
Remember, the keys to the Registry’s building was lodged at the Police HQ for safe-keeping? Just to know that not even the Police HQ was safe to ho9ld those keys. Keys disappeared. Next thing, Registry burglarised and documents stolen. Up to this day, absolutely NOTHING has happened.
The wicked ones have suceeded again to have that criminal act compromised, stalled. Pure WICKEDNESS. Corruption. Lawlessness.
Dominicans, take some time off for a while, meditate, thing deeply of the grim, situation that our country has ben brought to by men and women who have relinquished their roles of “being each others keeper.”
Our children are suffering because of the don’t-care-attitude, the wickedness, the nastiness, the corruption that many Dominicans now…
How could such a document be leaked. Their should be a thorough investigation into the matter, and all involved parties should be brought before the court and should be immediately fired for interfering with the court of law and the judicial process.
“Private legal document” was it in the hands of lawyer or was it in the CID.
This is ridiculous.
#LOD
Why didn’t he say what would be the implications in terms of the options that would be available to litigants if the said documents were actually authentic and hence truly leaked. Could it mean a non case submission being successful? What are the implications of this? Si assuming that justice could be prejudiced does it mean that concerned parties on either side may choose to leak documents to ambush justice ? So I have a week case so I leak to the media–Bingo I escape on a technicality?
Lawful, I dont think you and many others understand what is going on…whether or not documents were leaked to the public this has nothing to do with escaping on a technicality,,,,,the case will continue,,,,u cannot escape on any technicality if documents were leaked,,what they are saying is that it will taint the jurors mind and the jurors may have already either found the persons guilty or not guilty based on what they have heard,, seen or read,,,,,you have a weak case u leak the info to the media,,,,nooooo sweety u wont escape on a technicality it doesnt work like this
That is a conspiracy ………………….
The evidence in the alleged crime is privilege information who leaked it out?
Someone definite knows the law and knows what to
to do to free their comrades.
Whoever the culprits are, know the astute defense
attorney will capitalize on the leak of infornation?
We are soooooooo short-sighted. Some people were ecstatic some time ago when information from a meeting between the Police Chief and his senior officers was leaked and Q95 had a field day discussing it and the callers were in their element. That was okay!
A report prepared by a senior public officer for submission to a senior government official was leaked before it got to the official (I understand) and it was published verbatim, several pages of it in certain quarters. That too was okay!
A telephone conversation by the Hon. Prime Minister from the Office of the Prime Minister was somehow shared with people who were not part of the conversation and those who considered themselves privileged to have that information were in their element. That was even more okay!
The list can go on and on. This time around, the fingers have started pointing and from my reading of it the assumption is that the information was leaked to facilitate those accused. We just do not learn…
I like reading from top to bottom and it’s strange that the only full printed date on this document is wrong. It clearly states that it was recorded Monday July 28 2014. Something is not right.
you most likely were reading or in possession of a different document to what I have seen. Sure I saw February 2016 on the document.
This is exactly what I told a friend who mentioned that leaked information is circulating. People get caught up with emotions and are quick to circulate information without thinking of the impact of their decisions. They want those involved to be prosecuted but their actions contradicts their actions.
Also
1. Will an investigation be done to find out who and how it was leaked?
2. Will action be taken prevent this in the future from happening and holding person(s) accountable for the leak?
Excuse number one
dominica not easy at all…… first off how the hell did the documents got leaked ? i smell a payed off officer… to get that case thrown off in the long run… I watch too much law and order- SVU to not be so dam dumb…. SMH…
Espeanol bebe you should know that law and order is exagerated,,,,,,,,if you know how the court works in the US you would realize that alot of what happens does not really happen in the court of law…law and order might confuse u…..
The wheels of justice in Dominica is so messed up it can only take a revolution to fix. How I miss the days of the late 70\’s where people believed in self sacrifice for the benifit of our institutions. Our institutions are so weak and corrupted it is not funny. Law abiding Dominicans to to rise up and save this place before it is too late. The signs of despair is right in our face and we are not paying attention. Corruption has been slowly institutionalized and even upheld as acceptable by its instruments in our college, churches, courts, every ministry, and our welfare system. I am afraid we may have crossed the point of no return because 15 years is enough time to poison the minds of a generation.
That makes alot of sense