Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Reporter

#TurksandCaicosIslands, October 4, 2023 –

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions appeared to be seriously short of public prosecutors on Tuesday September 26, one of the first cases to be called failed to have a prosecutor present.

It was before the Chief Magistrate; a lady by the name of DENA LOUIS – MORLEY was charged by the Royal TCIPolice with ‘wasting their time.’

Louis-Morely has two charges against her; one of “Permitting the use of a motor vehicle without insurance and the other is wasteful employment of the Police time.”

Appearing on her behalf was Latisha Williams-Bruce who arrived at Court long before it commenced. Mrs. Williams-Bruce seeing it was close to the start time of court begun calling several of the prosecutors whom she knew well having worked in that department for many years before transitioning to a defense attorney.

She was inquiring as to why there was ‘no one is at court from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution as yet and court’s about to start?’

We observed, the learned Chief Magistrate (CM) then walk out on Mrs. Williams-Bruce as she was trying to reach out to the Prosecution to send someone to court. When the CM walked back into the court and Williams-Bruce had to quickly put her phone away in according with court decorum; court police officials opened court with the formal “All Rise”.

The Court was declared opened but still no prosecutor was present.

The learned CM asked the defence attorney who she representing today? She told him the two matters for which she appeared today and told him she was just on the phone trying to reach Public Prosecutor, named as Enjaleek Dickerson to inquire as to who is to be appearing from the office of the DPP.

The Hon. Chief Magistrate allowed Mrs Williams-Bruce to be excused as she continued to assist the Court in locating the prosecuting Counsel for the day’s proceedings. She was successful moments later as Clement Joseph, principal public prosecutor appeared via link to prosecute the matters listed for that day.

The case against the female accused did not go any further because, Mrs. Williams- Bruce and the Principal Public Prosecutor Mr. Clement Joseph (via link) were in discussion before the court as to whether disclosure was served or not.

In the end, the case adjourned was adjourned to October 5.