Criminal Trials Begin This Week

Having twice escaped legal custody, Dexter Jno Baptiste is due to be tried during the May Assizes for wounding Burton Henderson on November 2, 2006 at Pichelin with intent to do Henderson grievous bodily harm. Jno Baptiste pleaded not guilty at his arraignment before Justice Birnie Stephenson at the Roseau High Court on Tuesday May 14, 2013 at the opening of the Assizes.

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Julian Prevost is being assisted by State Attorneys Arthlyn Nesty and Sherma Dalrymple.

Jno Baptiste's case should have been heard in 2008, but he had escaped from the Stock Farm State Prison and may have fled the country. He was taken into custody at the beginning of 2012, but he against escaped police custody while he was a patient at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

In addition, a man from Canefield walked away from court on the instructions of Justice Stephenson after the DPP's office decided to dismiss the charge of unlawful sexual intercourse against him. His lawyer Zena Moore-Dyer had pleaded not guilty to the charge at his arraignment during the January Criminal Assizes. Dyer had cited some concerns and Justice Stephenson had given certain instructions to both prosecution and defence to be submitted to the court before the May Assizes.

The High Court sitting is adjourned to Tuesday May 21, 2013 when the case against a man charged with incest is expected to begin.

Prevost will head the prosecution for the State over the next three months. He succeeds Gene Pestaina who retired at the end of the January 2013 assizes.

There was only one arraignment, that of Dexter Jno Baptiste at the opening of the Assizes. The only eight matters called up were traversed from the January Assizes. The cause list for the session includes 17 cases.

Two murder trials are listed; Shane Degallerie will be tried for the murder of Justin Joseph at Pottersville on April 23, 2010 and Edward Green for the murder of Damian Dorival at Morne Daniel on June 11, 2008.