A total of eight murder cases and eight cases dealing with sexual offenses are among matters to be heard in the September 2015 session of the Criminal Court which gets underway on September 29.
The case of Herbert Xavier, Lauretta Xavier and Manuella Williams of Soufriere who are to be tried for the murder of their brother Harrison Williams of the same community in 2010, are among matters on the list.
The three were given 15 years behind bars, however, in 2014 the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal ruled that errors were made by the trial judge. As a result their convictions were squashed and a retrial ordered. They are currently on bail.
Vivian Charles, Donald Massicott, Clarence Lewis, Bernie Samuel, Daniel Elton Bannis, Reginald Mann and Mackenly Williams are expected to be tried for murder.
Layne Orlando Royer will be tried for causing death by reckless driving.
There are eight cases dealing with unlawful sexual intercourse and indecent assault.
Other matters on the cause list, a total of 31, include drug trafficking, burglary and theft and death by reckless driving.
Year after year nothing changes. The top two problems remain sexual offences and violence namely rape and murder. The same old, same old
The significance is the relationship between the two.
Both break the law of God. Both show disrespect for the human body. Both violate another human being. Both reflect on the sacredness of marriage and family.
Years ago while doing research for an ethics course I discovered that illicit sex leads to violence in society. I was surprised to find that the Old Testament law that forbids certain sexual sins contained a warning that said “Lest the land be filled with violence.”
Now is not the time to ask for the decriminalization of the worse sexual immorality. On the contrary if we want to decrease violence especially murder we need to move in the opposite direction. Give us tighter laws, better enforcement, and penalties that will make a difference. We will have a safer society.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
In a country of only 60,000. Dominica is barbaric!