By: Gavincia Clarke
Nevispages.com
(CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS)- The High Court in Charlestown Nevis, on Monday, April 27, 2015 saw emotions running the gamut. This followed the ruling by Her Ladyship, Justice Lorraine Williams on whether the matter of the murder of Leon Westerman would go to trial.
On Thursday, April 23, 2015 defense counsels defending the trio Asim ‘Sim’ Parris, Dexter ‘Pilikin’ Somersall and Craig ‘Jumbies’ Halliday who were charged for the 2008 murder of Leon ‘Gravo’ Westerman of Low Street, Nevis moved an application to have the indictment against the trio quashed due to a technical flaw in the committal proceedings. At that time, Justice Williams adjourned the matter until today, Monday, April 27, 2015 to give her decision on whether the case would go to trial.
This morning Justice Williams quashed the indictment and all three accused were discharged.
When Justice Williams rendered her decision, smiles lit up the faces of the three accused.
The legislation of the St. Christopher and Nevis states that any evidence given must be signed by the witness and the Magistrate. However, the indictment in this matter was not signed because the main witness gave evidence via a video link. As a result, Justice Williams ruled that the indictment was invalid and it was founded on improper committal proceedings.
The three men walked out the Charlestown High Court free of charge. However, as soon as they walked out of the doors of the High Court, they walked straight into the hands of police officers of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force who were on the outside waiting to re-arrest.
A mother of one of the men fell to her knees and broke down in tears after seeing her son walk out the courthouse free of charge. However, this joy was short-lived as the men were immediately placed into police vehicles and transported to the Charlestown Police Station.
Nevispages understands that the three men were re-arrested on a new warrant and charged again for the 2008 murder of Leon ‘Gravo’ Westerman.
The trio will once again have to apply for bail at the Nevis High Court. However, if bail is denied they will be remanded to prison until the matter is brought before the court.
