Henry-Ricketts say not guilty

| 08/01/2009

(CNS): The two men accused of murdering Estella Scott-Roberts on 11 October 2008 appeared in Grand Court yesterday and entered a not guilty plea to the charge of murder. Although Kirkland Henry (27) and Larry Ricketts (25), both Jamaican nationals, also stand accused of other charges including rape, abduction and robbery, the men were not arraigned for those charges on the request of their defence attorneys.

On the first day of this year’s Grand Court session (Wednesday 7 January) the two men appeared before Justice Alex Henderson at the end of a long docket. Henry and Ricketts, who are currently on remand at HMP Northward, were brought in to the court room surrounded by heavy security from both police and HMP officers. Once their pleas were recorded, Justice Henderson set the trial date for 3 August 2009. He queried whether the ten day period set aside was long enough for the trial as some 34 potential witnesses were listed to appear.

However, the defence attorneys both said that it was unlikely that all the witnesses would be called as much of the testimony would be similar, and that two weeks should be a sufficient time for the trial. Henry is being represented by attorney Ben Tonner and John Furniss is representing Ricketts. Both men will be arraigned regarding the other charges against them at a later date.

Both men were arrested by police on Monday, 27 October, over two weeks after the body of local activist and Cable and Wireless communications manager Scott-Roberts was found in her burnt out car in the dykes area of Barkers in West Bay.

William McLaughlin- Martinez, the man charged with the murder of Brian Rankine, whose naked and mutilated body, the result of a machete attack, was found in a car park at McField Lane in George Town in May of last year, also entered a not guilty plea to the charge of murder, which was read out to him in court. His trial date has been set for 7 July.

Josue Perez–Carrillo who has been charged with the murder of Canadian national Martin Gareau, whose badly beaten body was found in his home in Beach Bay in May of this year, also appeared before Henderson. However, his case was adjourned when his defence counsel, Anthony Akiwumi, explained that he would be engaging in legal argument with the crown and seeking a motion to have the indictment quashed, the details of which were not revealed in the court room.

Following the official opening of the grand court in the morning, Henderson began the afternoon proceedings with the jurors and fined five people $500 each who failed to turn up for the session. He then worked through a long list of mentions and indictments covering sexual offences, firearms charges, wounding and robberies.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    A person is inocent until proven guilty.

  2. Anonymous says:

    The "Not Guilty" please entered after these suspects purportedly confessed makes clear they are queing up a legal challenge on the admissibility of their confessions.

    I sincerely hope the police have not misstepped in some way or that the confessions get chucked on some absurd technicality.

    Estella and the people of Cayman deserve justice. We will not rest until justice has been served for her.

    I am cautiously optimistic that the prosecution with be up to the task. I cringe everytime I pay my hard earned money to Government to think that I am paying for a Queens Counsel and free legal advice for these two suspects.

     

     

  3. Anonymous says:

    Well, the success rate of the prosecution here really bears to question what is happening in our courts. If the evidence is NOT STRONG enough for a successful prosecution in this or any case – let us remember thatis the LEGAL COUNSEL that advises the police on whether they should proceed and with what charges. So ultimately, as far as I’m concerned it comes right back to the prosecutors again. They are either taken on cases that have little evidence or they are doing job with the evidence they have.

    Who scrutinizes them?

  4. Nicky Watson says:

    I had to delete a few comments that assumed the guilt of the suspects. However you feel about the case, could you word comments carefully please. Thanks.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Just curious as to why weren’t the nationalities of the other murder suspects mentioned as was teh Jamaicans…

    • Anonymous says:

      I say the same thing too?!?!?!

      It’s only discrimination my friend.

       

  6. Anonymous says:

    Well, Hope the prosecution can prove their case because we know how brilliant they are!

    • Anonymous says:

      Actually in answer to the suggestion that the prosecution aren’t very good.  An attorney is only as good as the evidence provided to him or her by the police and so if there are any problems the questions need to be asked at that level and look at the investigation the investigators and the evidence gathering process.  In any event has everyone forgotten that defendants are innocent until proven guilty or has the rule of law been thrown out simply because of who the victim is in this case?