Portsmouth man forgives accused in middle of court case

Forgive so that you may forgiven, or do unto others as you would have others do unto you was demonstrated at the Roseau High Court on Wednesday March 4, 2015.

A young man of Portsmouth who was charged with causing grievous bodily harm had the best of surprises when he appeared for his trial before Justice Errol Thomas and a jury of seven women and two men.

State Attorney Sherma Dalrymple was ready to proceed with the case when the virtual complainant, 21-year old Daniel Jno Baptiste told the court that he wanted to forgive the accused for the situation in which the accused, Yasim James clipped a piece of a finger on his left hand on the Michael Douglas Boulevard, Portsmouth on February 14, 2014.

"I do not want to proceed with the matter," he told the court.

Questioned by Dalrymple and Justice Thomas, Jno Baptiste said he was not promised anything nor was he threatened by anyone.

"I thought about it last night. In the past I was in a same kind of situation. The person I had the case with called the case, so I want to do the same thing. Everybody makes mistakes. "I am not angry with him," Jno Baptiste said.

Tiyani Behanzin represented the accused.

The prosecutor then applied to the court for the matter against the accused to be dismissed.

The judge noted that the case had not been put to the jury and so did not have to return the formal verdict and he next told Yasim James that from the evidence of the virtual complainant he had forgiven him.

"In the light of circumstances you are free to go," the judge said.

Meanwhile, at the court two other matters were discontinued on the filing of the proper notification of the Director of Public Prosecutions office represented by State Attorney Dalrymple.

Jeff Carbon who was charged with theft and burglary was free to leave the court as also Davidson Carriere who was charged with theft. Carriere was not free to go however because he was serving time at the Stock Farm State Prison on another matter, according to Dalrymple. So Justice Thomas kindly asked Carriere to "go back to your resting place. Go back to where you live."

On February 23, 2015 another man charged with unlawful sexual intercourse and indecent assault had the case against him discontinued by the DPP's office as well.

Meanwhile, a jury of eight women and one man found a man not guilty of incest, unlawful sexual intercourse, indecent assault and gross indecency when his trial ended on Tuesday March 3.

Counsel Wayne Norde and Bernadette Lambert defended the accused.