Daughter says she lied

A man from a northern community left the Roseau High Court on Tuesday May 5, 2015 after Justice Errol Thomas instructed a jury of four men and five women to return not guilty verdicts on two sex related charges against the man.

The man was charged with incest and indecent assault committed between May 1 and June 30, 2012 with his daughter who was at the time 15 years nine months old.

The jury was empanelled; State Attorney called the first witness, the virtual complainant, for the State, duly presented herself and then said she no longer wished to proceed with the matter.

Asked by the court why she made that statement, the complainant, who is now 18 years old, said she'd lied about her father back then for some personal reason.

Lawyer Dawn Yearwood-Stewart was counsel for the man.

In the face of the complainant's about turn, Judge Thomas instructed to return not guilty verdicts on both count of the indictment.

Three thieves face sentencing

Three men – David Jr Joseph, Imran Blanford and Gary Samuel – are on remand at the Stock Farm State Prison with a date to return to the Roseau High Court for sentencing on a theft charge.

The men, represented by lawyer Peter Alleyne, appeared for their arraignment before Justice Errol Thomas on Tuesday May 5, 2015 on two charges for burglary and theft. They pleaded guilty to the second charge of theft of $23,138 worth of telecommunication equipment including a black berry cell phone, cyber cam, digital camera iPad, portable DVDs, MP3 players, music box and other equipment and EC$250 in cash.

The theft occurred at Blue Sky Home Centre of Xin Pan at Castle Street, Roseau between November 7 and 8, 2010.

State Attorney Sherma Dalrymple, on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions Office, withdrew the first count of theft.

Counsel Alleyne made a case for the men to be released on bail pending their sentence. He said most of the items were recovered with the assistance of the prisoners, and during the period leading up to the trial they had always been present at court.

But Justice Thomas was not about to set a precedent and the men were remanded in custody pending their sentencing on Monday June 15, 2015.