OPENING OF  FEBRUARY CRIMINAL ASSIZES  

A total of seven (7) murder cases and one (1) case of Sedition, are among a list of 47 cases down for trial in the 2003 February Criminal Assizes. The Assizes began on Tuesday, before High Court Judges Lyle St. Paul and Charmaine Pemberton at the number one and two High Court's in St. George's Grenada.      The local justice department earlier this week released a five page court document, bearing the names of the seven (7) accused killers and the well-known British trained Journalist Grenadian Stanley Charles who will answer the charge of Sedition for statements made against Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell and his Government in1998.

The document bore the names of fifty-two (52) accused persons, among them one woman, Erica Roberts who has been charged with the offence of Causing Damage.

The seven murder accuses are Peter Duncan who is held responsible for the death of a secondary school teacher Christopher Charles, 45 yr. old Nathaniel Mc. Gillivary alias ''Gurine'' who is charged with Kevin Frankly's death, Otis Baptiste and Alleyne Bowen.

The court will also decide the fate of Green Street resident Sammy Cadet who is accused of beating another man to death, St. David's resident Roland Charles who around the middle of last year allegedly beat in the head and killed St. David's farmer Reginald Jeremiah. Jeremiah was at the time attending the attending to his crops. The list is rounded off by Cherry Hill resident Andre Bennett who has been afforded a retrial following a Privy Council and OECS Court of Appeal for the killing of retired St. George's business woman Myrtle Williams, some eight to ten years ago.  

It is the view of many legal practitioners that the Sedition matter involving Stanley Charles will generate tremendous interest. GRENADA TODAY understands that a member of the Mitchell Government, Senator Richard Mc. Phail is among the witnesses expected to give evidence in the matter.

Mr. Charles got into confrontation with the law and the Mitchell government in November of 1998 for Seditious statements made about the Mitchell Government in relation to the then External Affairs Minister Dr. Raphael Fletcher. Dr Fletcher had tendered his resignation to Governor General Sir Daniel Williams earlier that day.

Meanwhile there are three (3) cases of Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, to be heard, four (4) cases of Grievous Harm, six (6) cases of Rape, five (5) case of Incest, six (6) cases of Indecent Assault.

There are a number of other cases such as Dangerous Harm, Stealing,  Possession of Ammunition and Fire-arms, Robbery, Robbery with Violence,  House Breaking, Burglary, Attempted Robbery, Attempted Rape, Indecent Assault, Assault with a Dangerous Instrument, Unlawful Entry and Escaping Lawful Custody. The assizes are also made up of four (4) traversed cases from the last October.