FRIDAY,
DECEMBER 30, 2016
VOLUME 110, No.52
Stories by HAYDN HUGGINS FROM A PROSECUTORIAL perspective, 2016 has been a good year at the Serious Offences Court. That’s according to Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche who heads the Summary Division in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). Delpleche told THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday that there were several successful prosecutions at trials, as well as Preliminary Inquiries (PI). “Some were very challenging, but we were able to secure successful prosecution in most of them.” He pointed out that there were a number of successful cases that stood out in his mind, one such being the matter involving Deran Gerald, who was sentenced to five years in prison for firearm possession. Delpleche recalled the robust manner in which the trial was conducted. Attorney Grant Connell represented the defendant. All in all, according to Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche, 2016 was a satisfactory year for the Prosecution at the Serious Offences Court.
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“It was fiercely contested by both sides, and it generated a lot of publicity on social media,’’ he said. Delpleche also recalled the drama involved. He noted that the incident occurred at South Rivers during the 2016 carnival celebrations, and when the police apprehended the defendant, persons on the scene “stoned” the police transport, and some even prostrated themselves in front and behind the police transport to prevent it from moving. “The vehicle had to take a back route to get out of the area”, Delpleche quipped. The Prosecutor commended Constable 208 Salvan Browne who led the party of Rapid Response Unit (RRU) officers to carry out the operation. “Kudos to P.C Browne for the cool, calm and professional manner in which he led his men, preventing the situation
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from getting out of hand. “Many nights I sit and ponder what could have happened during that incident. Had it not been for the professionalism of P.C. Browne, police officers as well as civilians could have been seriously injured.” The Preliminary Inquiry which stands out most for the Senior Prosecutor, was the one in which Trinidadian Junior Gomez, 26, and Gabriel Hutchins, 41, of Bequia, were committed to stand trial at the High Court for possession of 10,892 grams of cocaine with intent to supply, possession for the purpose of drug trafficking, conspiracy for the purpose of drug trafficking and importation of the drug. (More on Page 5) Continued on Page 3.
SVG COUNTS 38TH HOMICIDE FOR 2016 speculating whether or not this number would THE NUMBER OF increase. HOMICIDES for the year Neptune died as a result moved to 38, surpassing of a single bullet to the the then record of 36 head, police sources recorded in 2014, following indicated. the shooting death of 34Police also stated that year-old Kamari Neptune the incident occurred of Campden Park. sometime before 6:00am And with one day to go Thursday, December 29, as before the New Year, Neptune was making his Vincentians are way to a parked vehicle, in by DAYLE DA SILVA
Kamari Neptune – shot and killed. an area in Redemption Sharpes. Continued on Page 3.