The National Newspaper of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
FRIDAY,
SEPTEMBER 21, 2012
VOLUME 106, No. 38
www.thevincentian.com
ÂMONSTROUS... MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICEÊ, SAYS Q.C by HAYDN HUGGINS
CARLYLE DOUGAN Q.C, a former Attorney General here, has described the murder convictions of Che ‘Ragga’ Bute and Azari ‘Nines’ Ash, both of Redemption Sharpes, as, “a
Colin Williams, DPP, had originally sought the death penalty in the case against Che ‘Ragga’ Bute and Azari ‘Nines’ Ash.
monstrous demonstration of a miscarriage of justice.” The Queen’s Counsel who represented Ash at the trial and will conduct his appeal, made the comment while speaking to THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday.
Attorney Jomo Thomas is optimistic about his client’s chances before the court of appeal.
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and lies.” Robertson, 24, of Evesham died from a single bullet to the head while reportedly Carlyle Dougan Q.C. minced no words sitting at the about what he thought of the conviction of roadside at his client. Walvaroo, Sion Hill, with two use any affidavit at the appeal other men, on September 2, hearing, the appellants, 2012. through their lawyers, would On May 7, 2012, Robertson have to apply to the court of had signed to a sworn affidavit appeal to introduce fresh recanting his testimony at the evidence. He indicated that trial. He stated in the affidavit the application would be made that he had lied under oath at the hearing. No date has because the police promised yet been set for the hearing of him a passport, and to send the appeal. him abroad if he testified However, both Dougan and against Bute and Ash. Bute’s lawyer, Jomo Thomas, The prosecution’s case are aware that Robertson’s Witness with a history hinged primarily on recantation alone, is not Robertson’s testimony, in sufficient to overturn the Dougan said Director of which he related that he was convictions. Public Prosecutions (DPP) present when Samuel’s Speaking with THE Colin Williams ought not to murder was planned. He had VINCENTIAN on Monday, have sought a conviction based testified that Bute Thomas pointed out that the on the testimony of star masterminded the killing, court of appeal has ruled in witness Uroy ‘Laybay’ while Ash was assigned to pull previous cases that a Robertson, with Robertson’s the trigger. recantation by a witness is not antecedents. sufficient to overturn a He described Robertson as Recantation insufficient conviction. “a man with a long history of violence, gunplay, dishonesty Dougan pointed out that to Continued on Page 3. Dougan is of the view that the legal system has totally failed Bute and Ash. A 12-member jury on July 27, 2011, had found the two guilty of the murder of Lloyd ‘Lazarus’ Samuel, also called ‘Hawkie’ or ‘Lazo’, who was shot in the head while reportedly reversing his vehicle at his Redemption Sharpes home around 1:15 a.m December 21, 2007. He was rushed to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he died on Christmas Day that year. Bute and Ash were sentenced to life imprisonment July this year, approximately, one year after they were convicted.