News
Local Grandmother Rubiee “Ruby” Forbes on Trial for One Bullet
Wilkie Arthur
Eagle Legal News Media
#TurksandCaicos, June 7, 2024 – In a highly anticipated and closely watched case, the court’s decision earlier this year mandated that all persons convicted of firearms or ammunition offenses must be sentenced to prison, even if exceptional circumstances are found and accepted by the presiding justice. This case, involving local grandmother Rubiee Forbes, is attracting significant attention.
Locals are keenly observing whether Rubiee Forbes, a hardworking Turks Island grandmother, will be convicted by a six-member Grand Turk jury and what sentence His Lordship, The Hon. Mr. Justice Chris Selochan, will hand down if she is convicted.
The allegation against Forbes is that while traveling from Grand Turk to Providenciales on July 26 of last year, she unlawfully had one
The trial commenced on Tuesday, June 4, with a seven-member jury being selected, which was shortly reduced to six members as one juror had a concern about sitting on this particular case.
The trial was adjourned early on Wednesday due to weather conditions and power outages on the Island of Grand Turk.
Mr. Justice Chris Selochan, the presiding judge, sits in Grand Turk Supreme Court from Monday through Wednesday and handles civil cases in Providenciales on Thursdays and Fridays. This arrangement is concerning, as it highlights the shortage of judges in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ high court. Splitting one justice between two courts (in Grand Turk and Providenciales) is particularly problematic for jury trials, where jurors have an extended period from Wednesday afternoon until the following Monday to be potentially influenced by external information (even more so if Monday is a holiday).
Representing the female accused is Mrs. Kimone Tennant, assistant to Mr. Oliver Smith KC of Baycourt law firm. For the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms. Alima Alexis is the prosecutor.
The trial continues next week.