Mystery man revealed in court
(CNS): Updated Friday. Although police have now introduced a policy of not naming people who face criminal charges the man who was charged earlier this week with ‘accessory after the fact of murder’ is Craig Johnson. Johnson (29) appeared in court this week in connection with the murder of Marcos Mauricio Gauman. The fatal shooting took place on 11 March in Maliwinas Way, West Bay. Police have already charged a teenage boy with Gauman’s murder. Johnson was remanded in custody until next week. Police said this week they intend to continue withholding the names of suspects, even after they are charged.
The sixteen-year-old boy accused of murdering Duran, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as oppose to police policy, appeared in court on 13 April but was refused bail, despite requiring specialist treatment as a result of a severe gunshot wound the teen received on the night that Duran was killed. Duran was the third murder victim of 2010.
CNS was unable to access details of Johnson on the day he was charged as the news of his court appearance was not released until after the close of day for court business.
Category: Headline News
I have deleted several comments claiming that the police have changed their policy because of a certain someone they arrested recently. This is wrong. The police have never released the identity of someone who has been arrested. Previously they have released the name if that person was then charged.
With the island being so small it does make sense to not release suspects names until they are convicted of a crime. It is incredibly difficult for anybody to get a fair trial because the whole island knows their business. People’s reputations never recover after they are accused of a crime, whether they were innocent or not.
When the court case is over we will find out the names on the court documents. I don’t think these are released until after the trial so at least the suspect gets the chance to clear their name if they were innocent.
I agree that the names of suspects, including those arrested for a crime, should not be released to the public. However, there is an intermediate stage between being a suspect and being convicted of a crime – when you are charged with a crime. At that point it should be a matter of public record since it should be on the court list, i.e before the trial, and the trial itself should generally be open to the public.
thanks to the police everybody charged and convicted will now remain a mystery….. ‘to protect the identity of victims’…what nonsense
Personally I completely agree with the fact that the names of suspects are no longer being released. Their names should not be tarnished until proven guilty.
CNS – surely we do not have secret prosecutions in the Cayman Islands. The names of those charged ought to be part of the public record which the public ought to have access to. What is going on?
Why does anyone need to know? Other than to encourage idle gossip and speculation, there is no reason that I can see to know the name. If convicted of the crime, then we all find out, but no use to anyone before a conviction.
Am I missing something? Please correct me if I am wrong.
You are missing something. The public have a right to know. They may have information concerning the activities of the individual that may not have previously thought relevant.
Ok, thanks for that point…I guess that is a good point…I stand corrected. I wonder if there is a happy medium?
If it is a matter of public record all you have to do is get up and get the public record. I do not believe anyone is prosecuted in secret. The court calendar is posted on the wall and published on the internet (the address escapes me at the moment).
Okay, so the police won’t name suspects, but anyone can access court documents?
…for now.