ACCORDING to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), based on the facts of the case in the Samuel Hinds Jr. matter, the issue is whether the guilty verdict by the previous magistrate is a final adjudication.According to law, a final adjudication is a verdict plus sentencing.

Attorney-at-law for Samuel Hinds Jnr, Mr. Peter Hugh, cried Autrefois Convict (a plea made by a defendant indicted for a crime that he has formerly been tried and convicted of the same).

Defence counsel said his client pleaded to both offences and was convicted (guilty verdict), and cannot be tried twice for the same offence.

The matter was adjourned, and on the next occasion, the court will decide whether there will be a retrial or sentencing.
Presiding over the matter is Magistrate Annette Singh, and representing the prosecution is Police Corporal Renetta Bentham.

Samuel Hinds Jnr. is the son of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds. He was found guilty of unlawful wounding on February 6 by Former Magistrate, Ms Geeta Chandan-Edmond.
He was scheduled to be sentenced by the former magistrate on February 20 last; but on that same day, Magistrate Chandan–Edmond was dismissed by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The 33-year-old Hinds, a miner by profession and of Lot 83 Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown, was found guilty of wounding his teenaged sister-in-law Tenza Layne, after he accused her of stealing his phone. He is currently out on bail.

On the day in question, February 27, 2014, Hinds and the victim had an argument over the missing cell phone, and he reportedly stomped Layne before dragging her on the ground and beating her with a cane.

He then brandished a gun, cranked it, and threatened to kill her.