Seven murder cases are on the cause list for the January session of the criminal court which gets underway this morning (Tuesday) at the High Court in Roseau.
Among the cases is the retrial of Manuella Willliams, Loretta and Herbert Xavier of Soufriere who were jailed for 15 years after a jury found them guilty of killing their brother, Harison Williams, in 2010.
They appealed the conviction and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) upheld that “major errors” were made during the trial by Judge Brian Cottle.
Their conviction was subsequently quashed by the ECSC in November 2014, and they were granted bail in the sum of EC$250,000 each with sureties and placed on curfew.
Lawyer Dawn Yearwood Stewart, who is representing the siblings, applied for their release on bail even though the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) filed new indictments on them for the January criminal assizes.
Among their bail conditions is that they are not to be seen in any public places except in “church”.
The other murder cases are that of Vivian Charles, Clarence Lewis, Bernie Samuel, Daniel Elton Bannis, Asha James, Reginald Mann and Mckenley Williams.
Also, Orlando Royer will be tried for causing death by reckless driving.
Other matters include indecent assault, drug trafficking and unlawful sexual intercourse.
Three people on one brother ,not one of them could say stop after lashing many times.. i can remember my brother and sister fought with each other when they were kids ,as grown ups they still pick on each other but never fight ,i can understand that 3 or 4 siblings fight against strangers and kill but will never understand how siblings kill each other,i do not condone crime but every one of us is susceptible of getting upset and hurt someone else ,nonetheless i must say where is the love among people of the same blood,human beings are destroying each other to satisfy their own lost .not one of us is safe from being violated in as much as we can hear and see on television what is happening around the world ..we need God’s intervention …pray when ever we have a little time quietly ,speak to our children ,teach them good from bad ,tell them every day that you love them because when they walk out through the door we don’t know whether we will see them alive again..
It is shocking that D/ca has had so many murders. Family members kill their own. What has occurred to D/ca that there are so many murders and other crimes? We should look back or conduct a research to determine when these spate of crimes commenced.
One conclusion is, these people did not practice the faith or ceased practicing it or they did not practice it as they should; insincere Christians.
Discipline commences in the home, in school and in church.
The Church teaches them to love God and others and how to conduct themselves.
Parents must discipline their children appropriately. Some parents may need help, probably from a Social Worker.
In school, the government and teachers must do their part in disciplining the children. Teach them to avoid bad company and subsequently avoid crimes.
If everyone assumed this responsibility, eventually Dominica may have a model crime-free country. Would this not be worth celebrating? D/ca would be the envy of the world.
That’s why people will continue to cut other persons lives short knowing that they will be granted bail
Too many appeals. They expect to be acquitted. They cannot bring back the one they murdered. They should pay the price of a stiff sentence.