Attorney Makes Plea for Trial Date; Weapons Trial dragging on  

By Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Reporter

#TurksandCaicos, July 17, 2023 – Mr. Oliver Smith KC was on July 6, 2023 pleading with the Hon Judge Mr. Chris Selochan for the earliest possible date in this (2023) year for his client CURTIS “JAY” BUTTERFIELD to be tried.

BUTTERFIELD was initially charged with a number of very serious offences stemming from crimes committed on New Year’s Day of 2021 including: Murder, Attempted Murder and  Grievous Bodily Harm.  Additionally, Butterfield is facing the charge of Carrying and Use of Offensive Weapon to cause fear.

Early 2021, at the sufficiency hearing Mr. Oliver Smith, KC made submission against the murder charge and it was dismissed against BUTTERFIELD. He was left with all the other charges listed above.

His matter was listed for mention on Thursday July 6th and one of the main reasons was, he has no trial date, as all his other trial dates were vacated.  His attorney has asked the Hon judge for a December date, if not before, but he stressed that he wish for this matter to roll over in the new year.

Butterfield, has been remanded since his arrest in January 2021 and all his bail applications was refused at every attempt.

Mr. Clement Joseph, Principal Public Prosecutor is ready to proceed with this trial at the earliest possible available court date.

He told the court that he is reviewing the file with a view of applying to file a new indictment with just one charge instead of all the unnecessary counts on the now existing indictment. The prosecutor stressed that the penalty for attempted murder and grievous bodily harm are the same and both offences carry a maximum of imprisonment for life.

The other charge of offensive weapon is also deemed unnecessary.

An application for a new indictment is expected for the July 21st, 2023 and with a hope of a trial date being fixed for this year.