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one A city magistrate dismissed gun charges against a St. Michael man Wednesday because the prosecution failed to provide disclosure information to the defense.
Louis Delisle Roachford, a teenager from Corday Avenue, Bayville, escaped prosecution from the A District Magistrates Court on a charge that on February 7, 2022, he possessed a firearm without a valid licence.
When the case came before Magistrate Angela Knight, defence lawyer Kyle Vaux told the court that a recess had been decided at the previous sitting to allow the Crown to provide disclosure information to its side. He asked that if the Crown was not prepared to provide disclosure information to the defence, the case be dropped.
Prosecutor Verdon Forde said the dossier had been prepared and was being reviewed. He asked the magistrate to give him another chance to disclose the information to the defendant and his lawyer.
“That’s not good enough,” Vox countered, adding that if prosecutors don’t have the necessary documents, “the matter should be dismissed in writing. The prosecutor cannot come and buy more time.”
Magistrate Knight then made it clear she had “sent the signal”. She said: “We can’t keep falling into the same trap. Someone has to come… I can’t accept empty words… I haven’t got enough information… Someone needs to bring the documents over.”
“A final adjournment is a final adjournment. We cannot change the goalposts at any time unless there is a reason.”
The judge added: “This date (Wednesday) should be called the Final Adjournment Date. It is written right here in red (ink). Your words do not contain enough information… Final is final; it (the charges) is over. Some win, some lose, and final is final!”
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