Archive for October 11th, 2010

Martinez refused bail

Martinez refused bail

| 11/10/2010 | 0 Comments

(CNS): William McLaughlin Martinez will be staying in jail as he awaits his murder retrial on 17 January of next year. The man whose conviction for the killing of Brian Rankine Carter was overturned by the Court of Appeal this summer was refused bail by Justice Smith on Monday morning. Despite arguments from his attorney that the case against Martinez had been weakened as a result of the of appeal court’s decision, the judge said he believed Martinez would fail to appear for that trial if granted bail. Nicholas Dixie, counsel for the defence, had argued that the crown’s main witness in the case had been discredited, but the judge told the court he believed the crown had a strong case.

The judge stated that the crown’s case was cogent, and while Dixie claimed the witness was discredited, there was strong evidence in the case and Martinez faced a life sentence if found guilty. “It would seem, therefore, that the applicant would have a strong incentive to be absent,” the judge stated as he denied the bail application.
 
Although it is normal practice in the Cayman Islands that people charged with murder are not bailed, Dixie had pointed out in his arguments during the bail application that this ran contrary to the presumption of innocence. The defence attorney had told the court on Friday that the reasons behind the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal’s decision to overturn the murder conviction had undermined the crown’s key witness, Jason Hinds, and that his client had no previous convictions.
 
Dixie argued that the murder case against his client was one that boiled down to two people — one who was a murderer and one who was a coward — and it was apparent that the jury in the original trial did not necessarily believe that it was Hinds who was the coward and his client the murderer. The case against his client, Dixie claimed, was far weaker since the conviction was quashed nor was there any certainty that Hinds would even be at the trial, and he asked the court to remember that everyone had theright to bail whatever the crime.
 
Hinds, the prosecution witness who was convicted of accessory after the fact in the case, was released from Northward Prison and deported to Jamaica just before Martinez’ conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal.
 
Crown counsel Tanya Lobben said on Friday that Hinds would be returning to the jurisdiction for the retrial but because he had been deported there was a process that needed to be followed in order for him to legally return to the Cayman Islands to give evidence.
 
She had asked the court not to offer bail to the defendant as she said a jury had already convicted him once and there was strong evidence against him. She said the misdirection by the judge did not undermine the strength of the crown’s case against Martinez.
 
The crown alleges that Brain Rankine Carter was murdered by Martinez in an extremely violent attack after a drug deal went wrong. The murderer almost severed the head of the young man whose naked body was found in a parking lot in McField Square in 16 May 2008. Forensic experts during the trial revealed that there were more than 48 injuries to the victim’s body which had been administered with a machete and something akin to an ice-pick.

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Pastor and MLA ‘brain storm’ at Monaco yacht show

Pastor and MLA ‘brain storm’ at Monaco yacht show

| 11/10/2010 | 73 Comments

(CNS): West Bay MLA Cline Glidden and Pastor William Peguero, in his capacity as chair of the National Investment Council (NIC) were reportedly “brain storming” in Monaco last month at the 20th annual luxury yacht show held in Port Hercules, according to a press release. Joining staff from the CI Shipping Registry at one of the most prestigious boat shows in the world, they "spent much of their time analyzing the new challenges" that the yacht market faces. The show provided the ideal platform for the delegates to “meet with industry stakeholders, increase understanding of global issues that are affecting yacht owners and develop relationships that will drive business to Cayman’s shipping sector,” the release said.  

At the Super Yacht Owners Summit, owners and industry representatives reportedly opened up to each other and discussed ways to bring about change to drive the industry. “The Summit included speakers from the world of private banking, maritime law,ship brokerage, private jets and luxury yacht building,” the release from Fresh Image PR stated. 
 
According to Peguero, tactical solutions were presented that will be evaluated and tailored to enhance Cayman’s shipping market. "As a leading ship and yacht registry jurisdiction it was important for Cayman to have a presence at the Monaco Boat Show,” said Peguero. “Cayman’s yachting industry is dependent on the strength of relationships and the level of cooperation and understanding that exists between owners and the industry.” 
 
Peguero added that Cayman’s participation at this year’s show underscores the country’s service offerings to the VIP, business and private-yacht markets and that the insights gained from the trip, particularly with regards to constraints and opportunities, would allow for growth opportunities for Cayman. 
 
The trip delegates are expected to submit a draft report to the premier, the release said, and the NIC plans to partner and work closely with the CI Shipping Registry to further develop and strengthen the sector.
 
Photo below: Cayman delegates at the 2010 Monaco Yacht Show (L-R) Front row: Dorisley Jackson and Yvonne Webb of the CI Shipping Registry, Gloria Glidden, Lucia Badano the groups Italian representative. Back row: William Peguero of the National Investment Council, Eduard Henny the groups Monaco representative, West Bay MLA Cline Glidden, Peter Simpson, Tamara Bostock and Joel Walton of the CI Shipping Registry
 

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Tropical Storm Paula forms near Honduras

Tropical Storm Paula forms near Honduras

| 11/10/2010 | 0 Comments

(CNS): At 4pm local time Tropical Storm Paula, the sixteenth storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, was about 130 miles east-southeast of Isla Guanaja, Honduras, moving northwest at about 9mph. The NHC said a turn toward the north-northwest and then toward the north is expected on Tuesday or early Wednesday. Data from an air force reserve hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast and Paula is expected to become a hurricane on Tuesday. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the centre.

According to the NHC forecast track, Paula could circle around and bring heavy rain to Cayman for the next week. Hazard Management Cayman Islands said the National Weather Service is monitoring the storm and information is available at www.weather.ky
 
Tropical storm conditions are already occurring within the tropical storm warning area in Honduras and Paula is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 6 inches over northeastern Nicaragua, eastern Honduras and the Yucatan Peninsula.
 
A hurricane warning is in effect now for the coast of Mexico from Punta Gruesa northward to Cancun, including Cozumel, and a tropical storm warning is in effect for the coast of Honduras from Limon eastward to the Honduras/Nicaragua border including the Bay Islands and the coast of Mexico from Chetumal northward to south of Punta Gruesa.
 

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Lightning strikes plane en-route from Brac

Lightning strikes plane en-route from Brac

| 11/10/2010 | 7 Comments

(CNS): A Cayman Airways flight to Miami was delayed this morning because of a lightning strike on the aircraft on its way from Cayman Brac to Grand Cayman. A CAL spokesperson confirmed that the departure of flight KX102 to Miami from Grand Cayman was delayed by 35 minutes because of its late arrival from the Brac and the need for a maintenance check in the wake of the early morning lightning strike. After the successful check the aircraft was returned to service and left for Miami at 8:10am. “Cayman Airways is committed to the safety and security of its operations, passengers and crew, and apologizes for any inconvenience caused from today’s delay,” the airline stated. 

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Murder suspects released

Murder suspects released

| 11/10/2010 | 0 Comments

(CNS): Police have released two of the four men arrested in connection with the killing of Jack Forbes in Bodden Town on 1 October, an RCIPS spokesperson said on Monday. A 34-year-old man who was arrested in George Town on Friday 8 October in connection with the crime has since been released on police bail while enquiries continue. The 18-year-old man who was arrested in the operations immediately following the murder has also been released on police bail. Police said two other men arrested in the wake of the murder of Forbes remain in police custody. According to reports, 49-year-old Forbes, was the victim of a brutal attack which took place around the Plaza Odessa, in Bodden Town.

Police found Forbes’ beaten body at around 6:20pm at the scene of the crime, where he was pronounced dead. Witnesses said that Forbes was beaten and stabbed during an attack by several individuals.
 
Forbes had recently been released from Northward prison after serving around ten years of a twelve year sentence for the manslaughter of Steve Watler in May 2000.

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Assitant SG launches debut mystery novel

Assitant SG launches debut mystery novel

| 11/10/2010 | 1 Comment

(CNS): Cayman’s Assistant Solicitor General Douglas Schofield will be launching his debut novel this Friday at Books & Books in Camana Bay. The murder mystery which takes place in both Douglas’ native Canada and his adopted Cayman Islands is about a legal secretary framed for murder. Although Douglas has written numerous screenplays Flight Risks is his first novel though he says he is currently working on his second. The courtroom veteran will be signing copies and answering question at the event which is free and open to the public.

 
The novel is set against the backdrop of the release of 21,000 Swiss dormant accounts left behind by Jews who died in the Holocaust. Legal secretary Grace Palliser stumbles on evidence of a vast international fraud and finds herself framed or murder. Desperately searching for the evidence that will clear her, Grace flees across the continent to New Orleans, then to the Florida Panhandle, and finally to Grand Cayman. Hot on her trail is a corrupt former cop with a simple assignment — to kill Grace Palliser.
 
Douglas Schofield was raised and educated in British Columbia, Canada where he earned degrees in History and Law from Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia, respectively. Over the past thirty years, he has worked as a trial lawyer in Canada, Bermuda and—since 1999—in the Cayman Islands. He currently holds the position of Assistant Solicitor General with the Cayman Islands Government.
 
Schofield has written numerous screenplays and his script, Time Out of Mind, took first prize in its category at the 2005 Fade Out Magazine/Writer’s Network Screenwriting Competition.
 
For more information on all Books & Books events in Grand Cayman, visit:
www.booksandbooks.com
 

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New policy to address problem of youth violence

New policy to address problem of youth violence

| 11/10/2010 | 17 Comments

(CNS): Increasing crime and violence as well as the economy and education are issues troubling the country’s young people as well as adults. These are the findings of various surveys which have contributed to a new national youth policy. Compared with the previous NYP survey over a decade ago when sex-related issues and boredom concerned school children it is now the problem of rising violence and increased juvenile crime which will be taking centre stage in the government’s new youth policy expected to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly next year. Scotland told a recent meeting that there were no quick fixes regarding the problems facing the country’s young people. (Teenager arrested after a Bodden Town Robbery – Dennie Warren Jr)

 
According to a GISrelease the government ministry with responsibility for youth previewed the new National Youth Policy (NYP) last week. The 100 page document which will replace the original policy written in 1999 was discussed at a meeting with government officials and the National Youth Commission established to lookout for the interests of young people.
 
“The picture may seem bleak at this time, but there are no ‘quick-fixes.’ It will take an integrated effort to address the needs of our youth,” said the Minister for Youth Mark Scotland. The document reportedly contains a number of practical corrective recommendations but government officials said it will continue to be reworked over the next few weeks.
 
Drug abuse, the high number of juvenile arrests and the rise in violence among youth are some of the major problems identified by the National Youth Commission in this latest policy document. In recent months a number of teenagers under the age of sixteen have been arrested for serious offences including murder and armed robbery.
 
Scotland said the NYP would be an important tool in addressing the problems faced by young people in Cayman but in the meantime reform was already underway in some areas such as education and community affairs.
 
National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairperson Jennifer Manderson, who has been working on the document said the country had to do everything within its means to protect young people from abuse and exposure to damaging influences even though they maybe from within their own communities and families.
               
According to the GIS release the commission was started November 2001. Its overreaching goals are to recognise the unique role which young people can play in the development of the Cayman Islands; to create an enabling environment which enhances their opportunities, and to promote positive social transformation.

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Mothersill takes Commonwealth gold in 200m

Mothersill takes Commonwealth gold in 200m

| 11/10/2010 | 70 Comments

(CNS):  Cydonie Mothersill took the gold in the 200 metres at the Commonwealth Games in India this morning. Mothersill pulled ahead early and was never in danger of being overtaken in the final race. She won in 22.89 seconds, ahead of Abiodun Oyepitan of England who earned silver in 23.26 and Adrienne Power of Canada who was third in 23.52. The race had been scheduled for Sunday but was postponed because the Cypriot team protested the disqualification of sprinter Eleni Artymata. The appeal was denied last night and Artymata did not race Monday. Although Mothersill is a veteran sprinter at 32, she has displayed some of the best form of her life this year and was favourite to secure Cayman’s first ever gold in the history of the games.

This is also Mothersill’s first gold at a major world competition. Mothersill now joins Kareem Streete-Thompson in Cayman’s sporting history books, as he was previously the only Caymanian to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games when he took bronze in the long jump at Manchester in 2002.

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