OBSERVER Newsco: There will be another long waiting period before there is any progress in the murder case of high-ranking Customs official Nigel Christian.
Since April 2021, three men charged with killing Christian — Lasean Bully, 30, of Cashew Hill; Wayne Thomas, 28, of Hatton; and 30-year-old Saleim Harrigan of Greenbay — were remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison while they await their committal hearing.
Yesterday, the trio appeared before Ngaio Emanuel-Edwards in the All Saints Magistrate’s Court for the fifth time and the prosecution still wasn’t ready to proceed with the next stage of the case.
The prosecution requested that the committal be adjourned as they seek to disclose the final pieces of their file to the defence in 48 hours.
Wendel Robinson, who represents Thomas, objected to the adjournment and accused the prosecution of “window-dressing” — misleading the public to create a favourable impression — a claim he asserted at the most recent court hearing.
Andrew O’Kola, who represents both Bully and Harrigan, was not present to give his take on the matter; however, Robinson spoke for them both.
Robinson believes that the file should have been ready within six months.
He went as far as to ask the Magistrate to dismiss the case saying: “I think if the prosecution is not ready, dismiss the case, free the accuseds and then bring them back when they are ready.”
The magistrate said that while she sympathised with the defence, she will not be dismissing the case.
She instead gave counsel enough time to read the file and make submissions if they wished, so that on the next occasion, she could deliver a decision on the submissions and/or proceed with sending the matter up the High Court.
The defence has until June 27 to file their submission and the prosecution has until August 8 to respond.
The murder accuseds will return on August 24 for what should be their final hearing in the Magistrate’s Court.
On the afternoon of July 10 2020, Christian was abducted from his McKinnons home, and the 44-year-old’s bullet-riddled body was found in the Thibous area hours later.
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wayyyy past RIDICULOUS!!!! how many more delays???
Same I was thinking
So, it seems from this article, our public prosecutor and related support teams are unable, or maybe unwilling, to make a case.
Obviously time for the learned and successful legal brain & might of the AG to step in, takeover, and be ready for trial at the appointed time.
As the minister responsible for justice, one has to believe the AG has been regularly briefed on this most publicly pressing of cases, and indeed, as any good manager, has been giving vision & direction to the public prosecution team throughout.
I thought it was said there were 4 individuals that obducted and executed Mr Christian
Hmmm 🤔
NAH! Someting about the whole process and proceedure of this case doesn’t sit right wid me.
You telling me that the importance of this murder case (and by the way with a global audience watching as well), has been delayed yetagain.
IS THE DELAY POLITICALLY (BECAUSE OF THE ONCOMING ELECTION), INTENTIONAL BY THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, SOME SORT OF CORRUPTION, OR ALL 3?
HMMMM!
Must everything in Antigua be political? This deley is nothing more than defense lawyers doing what their clients pay them to do deley the matter. This happens all over the world. Nothing new here. So many cases in the court system that has been going on for years because of the same shit of lawyers and prosecutor playing legal tango.
The PROSECUTION is not ready
according to the article.
Nothing to do with defense attorneys.
There were 4 who took him, why is only 3 in custody. This is bull crap. These 3 were probably not even involved. Where is the justice for Nigel? He was a government employee, and a good friend. Get to the bottom of this madness, for his son and mother. Gaston you need to direct this from the highest level.. Unless you were involved. We all know what he discovered
Justice for Nigel!
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