The Judicial Review matter involving five police officers charged with the murder of Joshua Etienne has been adjourned to September 30, 2014 from 10 a.m.
That’s because lawyers representing the police officers and those for the State, could not reach a settlement after the judge granted them a 20 minutes break to deal with further affidavits filed by the State and which the defense attorneys claim were served on them late on September 23.
Lennox Lawrence, one of the lawyers for the defendants, had told the court that the other affidavits filed by the State were “attacking the claim form and while they were ready to proceed, this would significantly delay the matter.”
But Attorney General, Levi Peter, disagreed and told the court that the objections being made by Lawrence and his team of lawyers to the affidavits were “hearsay, irrelevant and scandalous.”
He said the State did not act improperly and merely sought to address materials as “best as it could.” He also told the court that both sides could meet and discuss the matter. The court agreed and granted his request but the two sides were not able to reach an amicable solution.
It was then left to the court to intervene and after brief discussions among the parties, lawyers for the police agreed to respond to what the State had filed by September 26 and the State to respond by September 30. Both sides were urged by the court to also file submissions and arguments and to serve each other no later than September 29, 2014.
“Let’s come on the 30th of September with vigour to get the matter done. This matter is of public importance, so let’s get it on the way,” the Judge said. He set September 30, 2014 at 10 am, for the commencement of the matter.
Etienne’s body was found in his cell at the Portsmouth Police Station, where he was being held, at around 5:00 am on August 5.
He was pronounced dead by a district medical officer.
He had been arrested at about 9.30 p.m the day before, for the alleged possession of ammunition.
justice delayed is justice denied
One by one these officers will pay for their wickness… God is good.
Sunshine i disagree with your point because 5 policemen not one of them telling the other to stop what they’re doing is not right. When the case is in process one of them must talk and say what happened that night
GOD SEES EVERY THING HE KNOWS EVERYTHING I PUT MY CASE IN THE HANDS OF GOD… HE WILL DELIVER.THE POLICE OFFICERS BETTER LOOK OUT..I HOPE THEY ARE PRAYING FOR FORGIVENESS///////////////
This is just another form of delay tactics . They knew what would have happened ahead of time, so they rehearsed ahead of time. Sorry there will be no justice with that case.Levi will definitely work with Lennox. Man done dead and gone, therefore case close. Officers you are free to go your merry ways
We keep forgetting no law no constitution
So the same justice system that good when the DLP wins all their court cases even when the evidence is evident that that they should be out of office; is now bad because they are playing the same game with this case of the police vs. Joshua, the system is bad. Speak against bad at all times, not when the shoe is on the other foot. My point is that the entire system needs to be reformed, even though we know some politicians will be living in stock farm after and maybe those same accused police officers too, among many others in our society. Wrong is wrong no matter who does it and the system is faulty even when it was the PM, Peter St. Jean and the others who were taken to court. Is not now we busy for justice for this young fellow that the system is warped.
Lennox Lawrence you have a price to pay and it will be slowly.God is watching you and these officers.Time will tell.
Sunshine I think you have a problem. To the family please do not give up .I believe some coco makac working ,but do not worry I know people who do things and later you have to ask. I wonder what kill that person ? Dr cannot find their problem, so to the family time will tell. DO NOT GIVE UP.
Knowing ,To Do And Doing. Being Meticulous With the matter, however the Time like delay cannot be Considered or viewed professional, or With Significant And adequate Interest Necessary.
Questions:
Who discovered Joshua’s body in his cell?
Sounds like he was out of his cell at his own risk after he was warned ‘ do not go far, since you do not know these other prisoners. Use your free time wisely. If you find yourself in trouble with the others on the cell block. Do not scream or call, because we will not come to your rescue.’
Was Joshua hanged in the cell where his body was found in the cell, with handcuffs fastening each arm to the structure to administer the brutal beaten he was given?
Hearing the injuries received to the body ,that were revealed in the examination report.
The examination Could mention and confirm position.
In less than nine hours, after an arrest of a male on alleged possession of ammunition , then murder under and during the watch of ‘law officers’. Is this negligence or malpractice?
Whose decision was it to get him to squeal as a pig or skin him like a cat? Was this excessive torture to try obtain results or payment for that was considered waste of Time and trouble those involved were put through?
Did ‘the guard/supervisor relinquish his position to pc, etc? Saying’ do that which you must to get results.’
Especially if it was told by the pc ‘that is not my first time, trust me it works!’
Today is it this way? Said/ like Results obtained are rewarded with cash or promotion or desired recommendation sheet?
The Time Demands These: Speak All that transpired, Repentance, Ask Forgiveness And Be Prepared to Receive JUST REWARD And Pay/ Restore Where Possible. Do not waste Time nor trigger delays.
The Need To Go Forward , and not Doing evil of the past, nor evil or wickedness from now onward.
We all know a human being has died and he is not coming back and defend himself. We regular citizens were not there including the lawyers and the Judge. One thing we know, something went terribly wrong in this cell in a few hours, and there have to be some kind of accountability and justice
As far as we know, he had ammos, but went in the cell alive and a few hours later he is dead with so many harm to his body? The family need answers and the world need answers. This is to fishy. Sad and so sad.
The sadness is that so many idiots populate this otherwise very useful and desirable site!
Some commentators to this site are apparently so fixated with and jealous of Skeritt that in their idiocy they are blinded to the realities. So there’s a Government conspiracy because Lennox Lawrence and Levi Peter are involved in the case on opposite sides eh? What den you saying about de fact dat Lennox de Labourite is on de same side as GON lawyer?
Both of them sleeping in bed the defence side and the other side so you must expect that. But justice will come one day
This is just a blatant delay by the Lenox Lawrence regime to delay this matter. Sadly to say, if this was the average man on the street, he would have been prosecuted already. Those policemen going to get off and it bleeds my heart…more injustice in this country.
LENNOX LAWRENCE AND LEVI PETER EQUALS “BOBOL AND CROOKEDNESS”
Nothing will come out of this. I am sorry to sound pessimistic but Joshua Etienne’s family wil now join the list of people waiting for justice in Dominica. Nurse Dylrample and GON Emmanuel and his wife are most prominent on this list.
This is nothing but a DAMN joke.
Lord help Dominica. One day all that crap will be over.
one thing I know the police judicial review coming soon 0/9/2014
when will the others involving gun mano emanuel come?
and the others?
well all i know if that man was my family member i would seek a higher science on them all…. i would not care at what cost…. just how that other officer just finish till him dead all five of them would go through the same thing….
The lawyers have gone mad and they are taking the country to hell with them. I think Plato had the right idea.
WITH ALL THAT COCO-MAKAK THATS GOING ON, WHY NOT FREE UP THE COPS AND PUT OUT SOME BREAKING NEWS SAYING IT WAS A FUNNY PRANK, THE GUY DIDNT DIE
Getting officers name going to solve nothing? What the officers did was wrong but I hope at the end of the day none of you all will need police help. Police are humans just like each and every one of us they can make mistake to. The way the public making big uproar is like police not suppose to be in no fault. I personally doe think the police killed the man willfully but at the end of the day they will have to pay for what they did.
No One Is Above the Law. that means Justice for one and Justice for ALL.
cops are to here to serve and protect nt to abuse power and put fear in the life of citizens. THEY NEED TO BE LOCKED UP FOR A LONG TIME.
is that what you call a mistake?
did they have a right to beat up the man?
that is just being wicked.
I know that kind of reasoning. High on red bug I
Drugs
Hmmmmmmm, when you beat a man that badly, breaking internal bones and damaging organs to the point of causing death and no one supposedly knew that this was going on despite the fact that they were ‘sleeping’ inside the very station, YOU REALLY THINK THAT THIS BEATING WAS NOT A DELIBERATE ACT???? Come on man!!!! They may not have wanted him to die simply because it would have been problematic for them but they certainly intended to give the gentleman the beating which they gave him otherwise someone would have stopped it happening. I hope they find out exactly who was responsible and punish them TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW!!!! They certainly deserve the maximum punishment…..NO EXCUSE!!
What the hell are you really saying?
Sunshine had it been your brother I wonder what tune you put to that chorus??????
Is the prosecution serious? Did the prosecution expect to file additional matters on September 23rd and expect the defense to accept it for start of a matter on September 24th without challenging it. Is the state also acting to delay the matter further? This matter is so interesting for the precedence it is setting. Policemen can now do as they wish with ordinary citizens. Arrest unarmed citizens, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx them, place them in cell, find them dead next day and then claim every privilege in law simply because they are police officers. That is a dark day for justice and the young man here. . After two months, history will record that following the death of an unarmed man at the hands of the police, the state cannot bring any body to justice or even begin to bring anybody to justice because the police, the lawyer and the court has agreed that the police has more rights than the average citizen – just say that you were doing your duty, whether through the use of leggaly accepted force of sheer mischief and criminal intent. The gentleman in question had to say whether he had more ammo of a firearm even if it means xxxxxxxxxxxxxxhim. Any other person would have been charged long time and subsequently bailed. In other maters, even when the police does not have sufficient evidence to prove murder they go ahead just to proffer charges within the 72 hours limit, subject the person to stress and public scrutiny and simply move on. It would seem police officers and citizens have two different rights under the same constitution. One can abuse the rights of the citizenry and claim they were acting properly simply because they represent the state, whilst the other cannot even defend himself even in the face of clear danger.
Could you please let us know the name of the ‘the Judge’. Thanks.
Why you want to know my name for? Hmmm you planning to fire bum me too???
Perverted lawyers, perverted judicial system, incompetent Attorney general, equal to justice delayed, justice denied. Having said that, we all know the so called Senior council is interested in one thing and that is money, money, money.
We know he is no friend to the honest Dominicans who are yearning for equal rights and justice for all. Time will tell!
Padner, when will you ever stop doodooin
in your pant?
When Linton come PM first thing i want to see is a clean up of this judicial process, it is time people who commit crime pay regardless of who they are, for the amount of times Linton been brought before the courts in Dominica he should do something about it.
And Punish BAD lawyers & Judges with immediate effect. This is the kind of change i want to see.
If. You are inciting a future revolution and hoping for one I suppose.
so ppl to like to make everything political so is skerrit that make those police do wat they do , oh plz even if lennox become pm and this …. has to happen it still will, some Dominicans to small minded
unfortuantely you cannot punish magistrates and judges…they have immunity..
Dominica is now known as the LAWLESS NATURE ISLAND…..VENGEANCE IS MINES SAY THE LORD HE’LL PAY IN HIS OWN TIME……R.I.P JOSHUA…..
Technics and more technics whey whey whey….men i am concern thats all i will say.
can we please have the names of the officers involved?
Isn’t this conflict of interest when you have Lenox Lawrence on one side and Levi Peter on the other side? They both not in Co with Skerrit and they are trying to deal with a case involving Police officers. Somebody should recuse himself.
the only interest that conflicted is you and your sortness.
Actually maybe both should recuse themselves……..but I doubt that they will. Skerrit has undue influence over the court system. So much for justice.
in other words you’re saying that one of them should be a supporter of the opposition? How did this become about Roosevelt Skerrit?
Some of us need to chill on the politics … Lawrence is a defense lawyer as such his job is to defend his clients. Period! So if Joshua or the other UWP defended the police officer and won the case… what would you say then is Skerrit that pay them to let the Police officers free?
Let the lawyers and judges do their Job…if you don’t like it, then go study to practice law and make a difference in the process!!!!
Yes Ail…… In response to your statement ‘Isn’t this conflict of interest when you have Lenox Lawrence on one side and Levi Peter on the other side? They both not in Co with Skerrit and they are trying to deal with a case involving Police officers. Somebody should recluse himself’, I have a slightly different question.
I ask myself does the government really want this case to have top representation on behalf of the state?
Why is it that the state’s case is being argued by an Attorney General who never was trained or tested on his ability to represent in court?
How is he to present and win a case of such importance and magnitude when going up against a lawyer who has completed the necessary training and has extensive experience with court presentations???
Is it not possible to have those with the training, knowledge and experience from within the Ministry of Legal Affairs execute this case???
Why must it be an Attorney General who was hand picked to do his job despite having not completed legal training, and because of his allegiance to the Labour Party government?
I agree with you that there is most definitely a conflict of interest there and it is not appropriate to have THIS Attorney General at the forefront of this case!!
This can only result in the state losing this case! This will therefore mean that the persons responsible for this despicable act will surely get off scot free and the family will get NO justice.
Levi Peter and Lenox Lawrence these two Government protégées in the same court? strange things happening in this judicial system
Because?
So if the state wins and the cops are jailed… who is to get the credit? Skerrit?
But if the state loses…. Skerrit still gets the blame?
Thought that would seem fine for the UWP!!! Not everything needs to involve the PM and politics!
to much coco makak in the murder case,i am sure if this murder was done by a civilian all decisions would have been taken in a few ticks…