MLA to face Grand Court

(CNS): The United Democratic Party representative for Bodden Town, Dwayne Seymour, who is charged with perverting the course of justice and assault, has opted to take the case to the Grand Court. The Member of the Legislative Assembly pleaded not guilty to both charges in the country’s Summary Court on Tuesday morning (11 January) before his attorney, Steve McField, revealed to the magistrate that his client would like to be heard in the higher court. Seymour will now join a long list of new indictments that will be heard when the new session of the Grand Court officially opens on Wednesday afternoon. Seymour’s co-accused, Joseph Hartwell Minzett, has pleaded not guilty to common assault but his trial will continue in Summary Court.

 The charges relate to an incident which occurred at the Grand Cayman Beach Suites in the heart of Seven Mile Beach in May of last year. Seymour and Minzett are both accused of assaulting Florida-based personal trainer Garrone Yap. All three men were arrested at the time and Seymour is accused of perverting the course of justice as a result of what happened when the police arrived at the scene.

The Bodden Town representative has vowed to clear his name and described the charges, which were brought by the police in October, as “baseless”.

The leader of the UDP and premier of the country, McKeeva Bush, offered his public support to his backbencher following the announcement that Seymour was being charged. "On behalf of the elected government, we wish to express publicly, our moral support for our backbench colleague Mr Dwayne Seymour during this difficult time,” Bush said in an official statement. Implying the charges related to struggles in Seymour’s marriage, the premier said the government understood the many challenges faced to keep a family together.

“As Caymanians we understand and empathize with the pain that is endured when someone, against God and against all social and ethical obligations, interferes with that sacrosanct relationship.”

Moving his case to the Grand Court will enable Seymour to elect a trial by jury or judge alone.