Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Correspondent
#TurksandCaicosIslands, February 23, 2024 – He is still of tender age, just recently turned 18 years old, and appeared in court charged with BURGLARY. Again, despite police publication of the young man being one of the three North Caicos young men arrested in a murder probe, the suspect did not appear in court charged or accused of anything so serious.
It is alleged that he broke into a home owned by or controlled by senior civil litigator Mrs. Monique Allan and her husband.
The learned Chief Magistrate, Mr. Jolyon Hatmin addressing the prosecution in the person of Ms. Enjaleek Dickerson, in this matter, indicated that he recommended to the legal aid panel for an attorney to be assigned this case on behalf of the accused.
He expressed there may be some legal issues regarding fingerprints taken from the accused and possibly unlawfully kept and used since he was a child/minor when they were taken by police.
Appearing on behalf of the accused CODY EWING was defense counsel Mrs. Latisha Williams-Bruce. The case was adjourned to next week, Wednesday 27th February, 2024.
The accused was however not released but taken back to police station, being further held in a murder investigation.
However, Magnetic Media can report that the senior civil attorney, Mrs. Monique Allan who is also a witness and possibly the complainant, along with her husband in the burglary case against the young accused almost found herself on the wrong side of the law by allegedly taking photo(s) of the young defendant, Mr. Ewing whilst he was sitting in the court awaiting the opening and arrival of the learned Chief Magistrate.
The young man observed the senior civil attorney taking photo(s) or recording him and began to curse, shouting out: “what da *uck this woman doing? … this *ucking woman over there taking my picture or recording me?” “she mussie want me take some and burst it over her head a?”
The defendant was outraged; his reaction was escalating and becoming more boisterous until this reporter intervened in an attempt to calm him down. A female police officer intervened, questioned Mrs. Allan about her use of the cell phone within the court to capture images of the suspect. Allan replied, “Not intentionally, I was turning down my phone and might have accidentally.”
The female officer asked for the phone, spent a few moments reviewing its contents in the presence of Mrs. Allan and handed the device back without further comment.
It is unclear what was seen on the cell phone and the officer did not bring the incident to the Court’s attention when the Chief Magistrate came out, nor did the accused tell his attorney when she arrived after such an emotive exchange.
It is not permissible or legal for any recording to take place within the confines of the court and just recently, it was argued that even media recordings around the court are questionable.
Speaking to Mrs. Allan on the outside of the court, she appeared very upset that this young man broke into her home, stole things , and vandalized and destroyed so many valuables.
She was also very concerned that the likelihood of this case being dropped if it is deemed the fingerprints were unlawfully kept.