Missing magistrate docket forces another murder case postponement
THE start of the preliminary inquiry (PI) into a murder charge against Colin Jones, Randy Mars, Jafar Simpson, Basil Morgan and Anthony Watson was stalled for yet another time, on Wednesday last, because the magisterial docket was not available.
The high-profile prisoners were transported to Providence Court, under heavy police escort for the pre-trial proceedings by Magistrate Leslie Sobers.
The accused are facing three indictable charges, one for the unlawful killing of Wodette Roberts, between November 3 and 4, 2009, at Loo Creek, Soesdyke/Linden  Highway and two for attempting to kill Roopchand Gocool and Shawn Embleton, also at Loo Creek.
But, when the cases were called, the Prosecutor, Police Sergeant Shellon Daniels informed that, while she is in possession of her docket and all the prosecution witnesses were present, the docket to be used by the magistrate could not be located.
It was first discovered missing on July 7 last, when the court was forced to grant an adjournment.
Wednesday’s disclosure, by the prosecutor, further infuriated the prisoners, who had previously complained about the delay while they continue to languish in jail.
Magistrate Sobers, when he granted an adjournment to August 16, had warned that, should the documentation not be produced on that date, he may have been inclined to discharge the accused.
Attorney-at-law Mark Waldron, who held the brief for other lawyers Tanya Worrell and George Thomas, urged that the men be discharged.
But the prosecutor suggested that the Clerk of Court could be summoned to give account for the missing papers.
Daniels, responding to a suggestion that an investigation should have been ordered since the July 7 discovery, said she is not aware that an official report was lodged with the Clerk of Court.
In the prevailing circumstances, Magistrate Sobers had no choice but to, once more, postpone the proceedings.
He, however, also indicated he would raise the issue at the level of the Chancellor, with the hope that there will be some forward movement on the next court date, September 8.
All three cases are being heard together.