News
Near Collapse in Court, Haitian Man cries when sentenced for Illegal Entry
By Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Reporter
#TurksandCaicos, June 29, 2023 – FRANTZ PIERRE of Haiti, found himself begging for the mercy of the court during his hearing for unlawful entry.
Chief Magistrate (CM) Mr. Jolyon Hatmin listened to the man, crying and pleading not to be sent to prison for his offence. The outburst followed the sentencing of Pierre to six months imprisonment for unlawful entry in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Even after he was sentenced, he stopped in an attempt to plead to the CM again, when immigration officers were beginning to remove him from the defendant’s dock to take him outside the court room.
He addressed the Chief Magistrate again, saying “Please, please give me chance… please do something for me, ” the
The learned Chief Magistrate responded to his continuous pleas and said, the maximum sentenced I could have given you is two years imprisonment but I gave you only six months. That’s the best I could do for you.
At the statement, Frantz Pierre became weak, his legs failing. Immigration and Police had to assist with his departure from the court, into a waiting bus and on to prison in Grand Turk.
The Hon Chief Magistrate told him and all the others that came before the court that day for unlawful entry that ‘you all can’t come breaching people’s boarders and don’t expect any jail time if captured.’
Before sentencing, he told the Chief Magistrate that he had paid $1,000.00 to come to Turks and Caicos.
The boat was intercepted at South Bank located in the Long Bay area on 19th May 2023, according to the public prosecutor.
The Chief Magistrate was further told by the DPP counsel that a total of 31 individuals were on that vessel. It was 20 males, 9 females and 2 boy children.
The CM asked the public prosecutor about the lapse in time between capture, charge and court appearance. ‘Why if this boat was captured since 19th May, why is it this man only coming before the court on 20th June?’
The Public Prosecutor could not answer the CM’s direct question but said Pierre interviewed and charged since 25th May, 2023.