Magistrate Michael Laudat has recused himself from a court matter to do with an attack on a mentally ill Grand Bay man describing the action as inhumane. The Magistrate adjourned sentencing for the offender who pleaded guilty to the assault.
Taurus Leatham of Grand Bay appeared before the Roseau Magistrate court charged with battery and throwing missiles.
Information from the court states that on April 12, 2021, at Lalay, Grand Bay, Leatham beat Patrick Ferdinand with a six-inch concrete block several times.
Regarding the charge of throwing missiles, Leatham is accused of throwing the said block in a public place to the danger of other persons.
Leatham pleaded guilty to both charges following which the prosecutor began reading the facts of the case.
After hearing some of the information, Magistrate Laudat said he had seen the widely circulated video and images of the incident on social media and as a result, told the accused that he would not be able to deal with his matter impartially.
“The video and images I saw were very gruesome. As to why I watched it I don’t know but I believe me having seen the video and images is prejudicial to your case, so I’m going to send you before another Magistrate,” Laudat stated.
He continued, “there is no way the images and video I saw I can divorce myself from it and give an impartial judgement, so I’m recusing myself to be fair to you.”
Before adjourning the matter, Magistrate Laudat reprimanded the accused for his action.
“I don’t know what gentleman could have done to you to cause you to hit him with the block but I will say that your action was inhumane,” he stated.
The matter was adjourned for today, April 16, 2021–before the Chief Magistrate, Candia Carrette-George for facts and sentencing.
Leatham was remanded in custody until the hearing
Why is this case being tried before a Magistrate, I would think such a case should be tried in the High Court with a jury considering the gruesome act committed against another human being. I’m also bewildered as to why would the Magistrate go to The Court and preside over the case, then admit he would not be able to deal with his matter impartially because he had viewed a circulating video of the attack prior to the case, couldn’t he write the chief Magistrate before presiding over the case to excuse himself.
But everybody doh see the video nuh???
For you to not see that video you must be living in a Cave somewhere man!!!
Impartiality does not have to do with public information but more so with personal prejudice as it relates to the mater or cause of action and giving those involve a personal stake in its outcome,,,
So if all heads of the judicial system sees a billboard with an issue that come into question for judicial review, should they all recuse themselves from the matter and let the accused remain in custody without a verdict???
Garcon you not making no sense as your claim for recusal does not add up!!!
Do black lives really matter?
The magistrate that is appointed to hand down sentence in this case should send an unmistakable message to all those who believe that mentally unsound people are not human beings and could he treated like inanimate objects.
Quite a number of mentally ill persons are roaming the streets of Roseau aimlessly and the relevant authorities have turned a blind eye to this rapidly growing problem. A country can be judged by the way the least among us is treated. The members of the Skerrit regime should hang their heads in eternal shame. Use some of the CBI billions to bring some relief and comfort to these unfortunate people. They are our brothers and sisters too.
Alah, Allah Allah see how my beautiful country has fallen like the Great Babylon of old. Love is gone, good conscience is a thing of the past, the voice of fear of God and voice of God seems gone as well. Yet all these social ills and spiritual declines are taking place at a time when, for the first time we have a pastors wife is a government minister, the Chief magistrate is a pastors wife and top evangelist, priests, pastors are friends of the government and yet, no one is condemning the evil works of darkness that is all over in Dominica. Why? The National mess even looks better when Magistrate Michael Laudat recused himself and now turned to Chief Magistrate Candia Carret George, the pastors wife, for Facts and Sentencing. Don’t forget she is the same one that dealt with the 3 year old that was put to wash in the washing machine. Where has conscience and God’s voice gone? In the washing Machine like the 3 year old child?
When I think of the kind of grosome and inhumane crimes taking place in Dominica these days, in such a small country where everybody knows each other and everyone is kind of related, I must conclude that is either Dominica is sold to the Devil or somehow Satan’s presence and influence on our island through our leadership is very real. In recent times we heard of people dying in the hands of police under arrest and judging by how police were seen this week beating and kicking a bus driver for protesting, I don’t need any foreign investigator to tell me how the man in police custody died. Then we saw a grown man put a 3 year old in a washing machine and activated the machine; then this saw how during the holy week two men were arrested for money laundering laundering in connection with $500k US dollars that police got but somehow they were not charged and both Skerrit and Blackmoore seems happy with the police. Today it’s this story? Boy Satan having his way and the church is happy
Guess this attack was almost as brutal as the attack of the thugs and hooligans parading as policemen on the bus driver.
Hope he gets maximum punishment for his crime.
Mr. Laudat I applaud your for your honesty and fairness in this case. Very well done comrade may god bless and protect you always. Keep up the good work because heaven knows we need a few good honest men like you in Dca who can influence the younger generation.
I wish all Magistrates had the integrity of Laudat. Soon Skerrit will move him because they do not appreciate integrity in their court system. Good Job Laudat, you are quickly becoming my fav magistrate after You Follow!