At Berbice Assizes….
THE murder trial of Justin Bayley hit a snag at the Berbice Assizes yesterday when the accused entered the courtroom 45 minutes after the scheduled starting time.

On being told, by the accompanying prison officer, that the related High Court order was received

by the prison authorities only minutes before, Justice Winston Patterson declared: ”This is preposterous. It is unacceptable to have persons waiting.”

The judge was referring to the scores of jurors in attendance who had assembled for the 09:00h commencement.

Justice Patterson said: “This Court cannot wait this length of time. This matter was fixed since last week but the prisoner only received the order minutes ago.

“This needs to be investigated,“ said the judge, directing his remarks to State Prosecutor  Dionne Mc Cammon.

However, following the swearing of the mixed jury, the Prosecutor secured an adjournment to Thursday, when she will make her opening address.

Defence Counsel Michael Baird also informed the Court that, since being assigned by the State, he did not have an audience with the accused.

Bayley, 39, is indicted for the unlawful killing of his spurned lover, Hilda Rebecca Nicholson also known as Hilda Nedd, on October 18, 2006, at Rosignol, West Bank Berbice.