-despite disgraceful and disgusting behaviour in court

By George Barclay

JUSTICE James Bovell-Drakes yesterday granted a second postponement of the trial of murder accused Lakeraj Fredericks, to enable jurors to be empaneled to try him for the murder of Clifton Bonus, called ‘Mutts’.Fredericks, whose first trial for murder ended in a hung jury, appeared in court for his retrial on July 11 without counsel; but after satisfying the judge that his desired counsel was in Berbice and that he was arranging to either get him by yesterday or be granted a state counsel, the judge granted a postponement of the start of the trial to yesterday.

However, when the accused was escorted to court yesterday, the judge was informed that a lawyer who was retained by a relative of the accused was before another court in New Amsterdam. After a short adjournment, the judge declared that he was unable to get in contact with the Georgetown chambers of the counsel whose name was given. The judge then observed that what has been happening so far appears to be disgraceful and disgusting.

After consulting with the officer-in-charge of the prosecution, the judge postponed the matter to Thursday, when it is believed that the Director of Public Prosecutions would take steps to have a lawyer assigned as counsel for the accused.