Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
Colwyn Harding assault trial… Prosecutor’s ‘no show’ causes matter to be adjourned
Colwyn Harding, who was scheduled to continue testifying last Friday in his assault trial, will now have to do so on July 24, after his matter was adjourned due to the absence of Prosecutor, Attorney Nigel Hughes.
The case which was scheduled to be called at 11: oohrs was not heard until a few minutes before noon.
Police Constables Devin Singh and Roselle Tilbury-Douglas are currently on trial at the Providen
Colwyn Harding
ce Magistrate’s Court for allegedly assaulting Harding.
Attorney’s Glenn Hanoman and Leslie Sobers are representing the defendants. Both Attorneys for the defendants made several inquiries about Hughes’ whereabouts after several minutes elapsed.
The Attorneys have expressed their frustrations at Hughes’ absence since he had failed to notify the court. The Attorneys said that they were also peeved at the Prosecutor’s lateness on some occasions, since all parties involved in the matter would usually be punctual.
Glenn Hanoman, who is representing Police Constable Devin Singh, once again requested that the matter to be dismissed but the Magistrate disapproved.
Nevertheless, the Attorneys asked Magistrate Leron Daly for an adjournment date which was set for July 24.
Last Friday, Attorney Sobers, did not make an application to have the matter dismissed. However, the lawyer informed the court that if the incident occurs again, at the next court hearing, he will join with Hanoman in making another dismissal application.
The defendants and the victim were seen seated in the courtroom about an hour before the case was supposed to be called.
On June 25, last Hanoman and Sobers had made a joint application before the court to have the charges against their clients dismissed. At that hearing Hanoman had contended that the Prosecution was unable to satisfy the court, during the trial which has been ongoing since last year.
The Attorney had argued that his client has been interdicted from work for over a year and has also suffered financial constraints.
Colwyn Harding, has alleged that he was brutally assaulted and raped with a condom covered baton by a Policeman while incarcerated at the Timehri Police Station.
Singh, of Lot 125 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara and Tilbury-Douglas, of Alliance Road, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, are jointly charged with assaulting Harding during the period November 1 to November 13, 2013, at the Timehri Police Station, so as to cause him actual bodily harm.
Devin Singh was also slapped with an additional assault charge.
The duo, who has been on trial since November last, first appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on June 3, 2014 and denied the allegations.
Singh was released on $200,000 bail while his colleague was granted bail in the sum of $100,000 by former Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Harding, who was at the time a prisoner at the station lock-up, having been remanded for allegedly assaulting the cop and resisting arrest, suffered a ruptured intestine. He subsequently underwent corrective surgery in Jamaica, even as a dispute arose as to how he had come by his injuries.
Medical examinations have confirmed that a ‘foreign object’ was inserted into Harding’s anus.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Chilling reminders that we are not safe
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Georgetown was plunged into shock and terror last week after two heinous incidents laid... more
Breaking the Chains of Poverty: A need for political will
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The year 2024 has underscored a grim reality: poverty continues to be an unyielding... more
Weekend Cartoon
