Report by Wilkie Arthur

Court Correspondent | Eagle Legal News Network

Turks and Caicos –  | Turks and Caicos Islands – Carlos Usher Higgs, 20, became the ninth person charged in an alleged conspiracy involving the late Jumillo Isma—also known as Jamal, Jim, or Sniper—accused of trafficking and supplying firearms, ammunition, and drugs throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Higgs faced four charges brought earlier this year in May:

1. Conspiracy to possess firearms
2. Conspiracy to possess ammunition
3. Conspiracy to supply firearms
4. Conspiracy to supply ammunition

At a Sufficiency Hearing on December 6th, Higgs’ defense counsel, Ms. Sheena Mair, argued before Chief Justice Mrs. Mable Agyemang that the law underpinning the Crown’s case had been abolished, among other legal challenges. The Chief Justice, after reviewing the submissions, accepted Ms. Mair’s arguments, leading to the dismissal of all charges against Higgs.

Higgs is the first of the accused in the late crime boss’s alleged conspiracy case to be discharged. The remaining accused individuals, arrested following evidence recovered from Isma’s 2021–2023 cellphone investigations, have been committed to trial and are out on bail pending separate hearings in 2025.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by Public Prosecutor Mrs. Sophia Sandy-Smith, opposed the defense’s submissions, but the Chief Justice ultimately ruled in favor of the defense.

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Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

Turks and Caicos, January 10, 2025 – The buzz words and core values for the 2025 Legal Year in the Turks and Caicos Islands have been announced by the country’s Chief Justice, Hon Mabel Agyemang in her address at the opening held at St Monica’s Anglican Church and the Supreme Court Annex on Monday January 6.

“My Lords, as we begin the 2025 Legal Year, we must keep our minds on our core values which are: excellence, accountability, service, independence, integrity, impartiality, and fairness. We must also train our eyes on our vision of working towards the attainment of ‘a Turks and Caicos where Justice is Available, Accessible 20 21 and Attainable’.

The latter point comes as CARICOM leaders are actively and overtly seeking international support amidst the expanding problems associated with high crime rates.  At a meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, the Community agreed to a profound declaration; labelling crime as a crisis and a Public Health issue.

“Caribbean leaders are keenly aware of these challenges and, in April 2023, heads of governments joined a broad range of stakeholders including police commissioners, academics, religious and non-governmental organizations and crime experts to examine the crime problem in the region and approach it as a public health issue that requires a comprehensive crime prevention and reduction approach that is not solely focused on the traditional criminal justice approach of retribution, imprisonment, rehabilitation and restoration.”

The Chief Justice said the Turks and Caicos is making reforms.

“We must keep our heads down and focus on our mission of “providing access to quality justice with quality judgments, efficient and effective dispute resolution and excellent court services’. I am confident that as we do our part, the Executive and Legislative arms of our Government will hear and grant our request for improved infrastructure, adequate funding and staffing.

My Lords, the Judiciary’s reform agenda is to achieve modernisation incrementally. In that agenda, funding is key.”

Her Ladyship rolled out a five-pronged plan, specifically listing:

1. Enhanced access to justice, which will include the ability to pay filing fees on the Curia E-Folio platform, as well as the introduction of electronic transcription services which will make the production of transcripts speedy. This will aid judgment writing and the time within which judgment is delivered, as well as the preparation of parties for appeals.
2. We continue to explore the possible integration of Artificial Intelligence into our services. We hope to advance our consultations with service providers.
3. The judiciary is also focused on the establishment of specialised courts for family and domestic violence, juvenile justice, and immigration.
4. We further intend to revamp our adjunct services of Court-connected Mediation and especially Restorative Justice which lags behind.
5. Lastly, as our Strategic Framework (2020-2025) ends this year, we will commence the development of a new five-year Strategic Plan to guide the judiciary’s work from 2026-2030.

Turks and Caicos, January 8, 2025 – BRIAN ALEXANDER FRANCIS has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of JUSTIN COX-BECKLES.

Based on the ruling handed down yesterday (January 07th), Mr. Francis, 29, must serve a minimum term of 29 years and six months before becoming eligible for parole.

The court also ordered the destruction of the firearm recovered during the investigation.  Mr. Francis was found guilty on December 18, 2024, of the murder of Mr. Cox-Beckles.  He had been remanded in custody pending his sentencing.

Background of the Case

On Sunday, July 24th, 2022, the Police Control Room received a report of a male with a gunshot wound to the abdomen at Rock Plaza, Millennium Highway.  The victim was later identified as Justin Cox-Beckles of South Caicos.  Mr. Cox-Beckles was transported to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where he succumbed to his injuries.

A murder investigation was immediately launched, and on July 26, 2022, Mr. Francis, a mechanic residing on South Dock Road, was arrested and cautioned on suspicion of the murder of Cox-Beckles.

On August 4, 2022, Mr. Francis was formally charged with the following offences:

· Murder of Justin Cox-Beckles,
· Carrying ammunition,
· Carrying a firearm,
· Discharging a firearm, and
· Discharging ammunition.