Brother and Sister charged with Beating up Police; case will stay in Magistrate’s Court

By Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Reporter

#TurksandCaicos, June 12, 2023 – At least seven counts of assault on police officers are what a brother and sister duo is charged with as they prepare to enter a trial next month over the violent attack from last November.

In the wee hours of the morning on November 12, 2022, according to Royal TCI Police, several raids were conducted by a team of joint law enforcement agencies (Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Force, TCI Immigration task force, Royal Bahamas Police Force and others) in Delancy Yard, The Bight, Providenciales.

The operation in was one of many across the Island as, at the time, law enforcement was in pursuit of a notorious “Wanted Man”, Brandon Rahming with an aim to disrupt and stop a number of killings, shootings and other gang activities in Providenciales.

On approach and entry of the Noel’s home and whilst conducting a search of the premises, a serious fight broke out between a brother and sister and police; the pair was later identified as STANLEY NOEL and his sister MARIE NOEL.

The scuffle between the siblings and law enforcement resulted in charges being laid against both Stanley and Marie.

STANLEY NOEL was charged separately with:  One count of inflicting grievous bodily harm (IGBH) and three counts of assault on police officers.

MARIE NOEL was charged separately with: One count of assault on police officer and both Noels are charged jointly with one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The court learnt that the medical condition of the Officers is categorised as serious.  The court was informed injuries included fractured bones and damaged tendons.

Initially the Noels appeared in the Magistrate’s Court on these offences on Friday November 18, 2022 but the matter is now adjourned as the Crown made an application to have the case tried in the Supreme Court.

If the Noels are convicted in Supreme Court the punishment would be weightier and could include longer prison time or stiffer fine.

On Tuesday 30th May, 2023 the Hon. Chief Magistrate Mr. Jolyon Hatmin ruled, after hearing the Crown and Finbar Grant, the attorney for both defendants, that the case will remain in the Magistrate’s Court for the trial.

The Chief Magistrate invited pleas from the accused; both pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Trial dates are now in place for July 6 and 7, 2023.