Court of Appeal returns to major criminal cases

(CNS): Following a week dealing with financial and civil cases, the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal will hear some serious criminal appeals on conviction and sentences this week and the crown’s appeal against the acquittal of Devon Anglin for the murder of 4- year-old Jeremiah Barnes in February  2010. The director of public prosecutions (DPP) is hoping for a retrial in the case, which was tried by judge alone in August 2011. The appeal has been listed during several of the appeal courts session but problems with attorneys in the case have led to its postponement. However, during the last CICA session the panel of judges made it clear that there would be no further adjournments and that the case would be heard this time.

The judges set aside two days for the appeal, which starts Tuesday. Today the appeals court is scheduled to hear appeals on convictions and sentences in five other criminal cases, including firearms convictions, rape, sexual assault and a case of assault by former police officer Rabe Welcome, who has remained on bail since his conviction for wounding after he broke the arm of Adolphus Myrie as he executed an arrest while off duty in 2009.

The appeals court will be sitting from 10am in Court 2.