TCI Court
Eight Months facing Police Accusations and Court, now Pedro Grant Exonerated
Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Correspondent
#TurksandCaicos, May 11, 2024 – A former FedEx employee and now fireman, TRISTON NEWBOLD is on trial for allegedly illegally attempting to import 14 vials of “liquid marijuana vapes” into the Turks and Caicos from Canada.
It is alleged that on Wednesday January 8, 2024 at Cairsea Services transit shed on Providenciales, he did improperly import a quantity of suspected THC vapes cartridges, packages in a manner appearing as intended to deceive Customs officials.
The trial is underway part-heard before his honor, the Chief Magistrate Mr. Jolyon Hatmin.
It commenced in the Magistrate’s court on Tuesday April16th.
Senior Customs officer of 18 years, Alton Scott was the first witness called by the public prosecutor, Ms. Alima Alexis, for the Crown. 
Scott testified that he was called to Cairsea Services concerning a package that arrived from Toronto, Canada bearing the accused’s name.
The Senior Customs officer said when he arrived, around 11:35 a.m. and sent for the accused man he returned. Newbold was reportedly asked if that was his name on the package, at which time he acknowledged that it was. He was then asked, if the package was his, again he said yes it was his.
Senior defense counsel, Mrs. Lara Maroof-Misick challenged that testimony, however officer Scott did not alter his account of the events of that day; adamant that the accused man ‘told me the package was his.’
Other items besides the suspected cannabis vapes oils were in the package, including two small stuffed animals, two small toy balls and other unsuspicious items.
The senior customs official told the court that they tried to rectify this within their powers under the Customs Ordinances by charging TRISTON NEWBOLD a fine of $1,500.00, and that would be the end of the matter, and they had also given him some time to pay the fine, however, the accused refused to pay within the time frame offered and was subsequently arrested and charged to appear before the court.
Mrs. Lara Maroof Misick questioned the senior officer about interviewing or recording statements from her client whilst the investigation interviews were ongoing, after which the trial was adjourned.
The trial continues on May 30th 2024.
Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Correspondent
#TurksandCaicos, May 11, 2024 – A string of significant cases are making appearances regularly at the Turks and Caicos CORONER’S Court based in Providenciales. In all of the matters, each has to go through a number of legal steps and procedures before a final decision can be made by a jury or the coroner herself.
Making the list for two-fold proceedings on Thursday, May 2, 2024, was the case concerning the death of BRANDON JUWAN CRISTOVAL SWANN and person of interest linked to the death, RONALD SAUNDERS.
A case which grabbed national headlines; Swann is the younger brother of the Deputy Governor. According to CORONER’S Court records, he died at age 28 on the night of October 22, 2021.
The police/ traffic officer who investigated the case at the time told the Coroner when she asked if the traffic and police investigation
into the death of Brandon Swann is officially completed and closed, he said “yes, from their prospective.”
The Coroner said, “ok, well, this is where I step in, and an investigation or an inquest is held.”
Having heard limited or partial sworn evidence in open court from the investigator and reviewing certain documentary evidence and statements, the Hon Coroner officially opened a full investigative inquest to determine exactly how Brandon Swann met his death.
The investigator told the court that Swann came or ran down the stairs of the bar on Leeward Highway immediately next to Grant’s Gas station and held on to the vehicle of RONALD SAUNDERS. It is suspected that Swann lost his balance, fell and was run over by the vehicle driven by Saunders.
The autopsy report said, he died due to multiple blunt trauma injuries.
A jury will be summoned and called to hear the circumstances surrounding the death, review statements, and documentary evidence, including the autopsy report from the Pathologist who performed the autopsy on young Swann.
The Swann family was not present in court, but they’ve hired senior criminal defense counsel Mrs Lara Maroof Misick and the sole person of interest in this inquest proceedings is Mr. Ronald Saunders, who was also not present.
Saunders is however, represented by Mr. Oliver Smith KC and assisted by Mrs Kimone Tennant.
At the conclusion of the inquest, the jury could be left with certain options to consider, and if Ronald Saunders is found culpable in the death of Brandon Swann, he could possibly be arrested and charged with manslaughter. Saunders could also be cleared, altogether.
For the week of Monday, April 22nd – Friday, April 26th, 2024
Matters for Monday April 22, 2024
(1) Her Honor will have further hearing in police involved shooting case of LAVERN SMITH
(2) BABY GIRL FRITZ. Type of Matter: Child Death Hearing is listed for an Inquest
(3) AUDLEY DORIC QUANT is listed for an Inquest.
(4) HOWARD KANE
Type of Matter: Drowning Incident Hearing is listed for Decision.
Matters for Tuesday April 23, 2024
(5) A 2022 motor vehicle incident of ROMARIO RICKARDO REID is down for an Inquest (Opening).
(6) 2019 Drowning incident of TERRY GOODMAN is down for Further Hearing
Matters for Wednesday April 24, 2024
(7) Listed as a 2024 case concerning SHENGLI FU
Workplace Incident is listed for an Inquest (Opening)
(8) 2022 – ROMARIO RICKARDO REID matter continues for further hearing in the motor vehicle incident.
(9) Case from 2016 – ARSENE PIERRE. Type of Matter: Thermal Injuries
Hearing Type: Inquest (Opening)
(10) Case from 2018 – NICHOLAS TWYMAN. Type of Matter: Blunt Force Injury
Hearing Type: Inquest (Opening).
(11) Nine(9) John Doe’s for Exposure Related Deaths continues.
(12) Four(4) unidentified decedents for Exposure Related Deaths continue.
Matters for Thursday April 25, 2024
(13) Continuance of SHENGLI FU
Type of Matter: Workplace Incident
Hearing Type: Inquest (Opening)
(14) KATHLIN COX
Type of Matter: Drowning Incident
Hearing Type: Listed for Mention
(15) A JANE DOE No.1. Type of Matter: Drowning Incident
Hearing Type is fixed for Decision.
(16) A 2019 Drowning incident case of MICHAEL VONLUERTE.
Hearing Type is fixed for Mention
(17) A 2021 Grand Turk case of OPHELIA TALBOT SMITH
Type of Matter: Motor Vehicle Collision, this matter is listed for Mention.
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