Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Reporter
#TurksandCaicos, January 19, 2024 – The 35-year-old male police officer who is charged with SEXUAL ASSAULT of a female TCI regiment soldier reappeared before the learned Chief Magistrate (CM) Mr. Jolyon Hatmin on the very first week of the new legal year.
His senior defense counsel, Lara Maroof Misick was not present on the date of hearing, Monday January 8, 2024. Maroof-Misick was said to not be feeling well on the day of the hearing.
The Hon. CM raised matters of concern to the Court, with the Crown’s public prosecutor, Ms. Tassja Mitchell. He mentioned to counsel for the Crown that, at the last date, when this matter was called, there was discussion and the Crown counsel then, indicated that there may be an additional charge to differentiate or spell out separate allegations of “groping or slapping” by the accused police officer.
He said, the Crown seemed to have wanted to show the accused did two different things for two separate charges.
Ms. Mitchell said, “Yes, your honor, we have discussed this and decided to leave the charge as is, and we’ll proceed in that manner at the trial.”
The case was then pushed to January 22nd 2024 for mention, and the accused had his bail extended to that date.
