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Absent prosecutor stalls Robb Street murder hearing
72-year-old Clementine Parris
It has been 18 months since her death but the pre-trial hearing concerning executed Robb Street granny Clementine Parris, is yet to begin. The matter was called at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday and had to be adjourned again because the prosecutor was absent. The policeman had a work-related matter to attend to.
Lawyer for the four accused Basil Williams, is however adamant that the prosecution is wasting time and frustrating swift justice. Williams has also argued that his clients are being unfairly detained, since the police are yet to put over any incriminating evidence against the men.
When the lawyer, on behalf of the accused Orin Hinds, 35, Cleon Hinds, 34, Kevin October, 29, and Roy Jacobs, 34, faced Magistrate Sueanna Lovell, he reiterated calls to have the case discharged.
Williams inquired whether the matter should be stalled because of the prosecutor’s absence. He cited the length of time his clients have been imprisoned despite what he said was the weak prosecution case. The court, however, gave the prosecution another chance to get ready.
The matter will be called again on February 7 when the prosecution is expected to provide the defence with the relevant witnesses’ statements. At that time Williams may decide whether he has any witnesses to call or to cross examine, since the matter is being handled by way of paper committal.
Late last year the prosecution and the defence were divided over which way the matter should be examined. Williams had argued for a paper committal, positing that the police had no evidence against his clients and that the case should thus be handled in the swiftest manner.
Police prosecutor, Neville Jeffers, had instead charged that adequate evidence existed to get the men committed to the High Court. He thus felt that the Preliminary Inquiry would have been better to hear also witnesses, while the police at the same time, searched for the masterminds in the alleged execution plot.
The court subsequently upheld a paper committal and ordered the prosecution to lay over the statements. Several glitches had however set back the matters commencement.
The 72-year-old woman’s death had however stirred public outcries fueled by the cruelty of the crime. Parris was on June 30, 2011 at her Lot 42 Robb Street, Bourda home when two men entered her premises and requested to see her.
On hearing the strangers, Parris approached her front door where one of the men riddled her with bullets.
Her brother, Fitzroy Fiedtkou, had reportedly witnessed the whole event. He said that the men had asked for his sister and when she approached they opened fire. He attempted to stop the shooter, but the elderly man was pushed away by the second gunman.
The assailants then escaped in a waiting motorcar.
Parris was shot twice under the armpit, once in the chest and once in the back. Police however believe that there are others involved in Parris’s death. The woman’s family said that she was involved in a bitter land dispute, before the courts.
They said that she had received threats and they became fearful for her safety. The woman however refused to leave her property which was purchased over 40 years ago.
Reports were that the accused were reportedly paid $400,000 to execute Parris.
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