Magistrate on leave… cross complaint case adjourned

There was disappointment in store yesterday, July 5, for persons who were anticipating that there would be progress in court in the case of the shooting of Cornelius John, in which two public figures are alleged to be involved in some way.

There also was surprise for at least two of the parties involved in the cross complaints surrounding this alleged incident, as they appeared at the Calliaqua Magistrate’s Court yesterday to find that there was in fact no court sitting.

The explanation is said to be that the magistrate for district three, Zoila Ellis-Browne, is on leave. All matters in this district have been delayed to August. 

John, who is facing three charges of using threatening language on April 13, in two cases towards his wife, and in one case to Unity Labour Party(ULP) Senator and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ashelle Morgan, would next appear in court on August 17.

Morgan, who is facing a charge of assault of Cornelius John with intent to commit the offence of wounding on April 13; and Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP) Karim Nelson who is charged with unlawful and malicious wounding, and unlawful discharge of a firearm on April 13; are slated to return on August 17.

All eyes are on the progress of this high-profile matter, which made news after John alleged that three persons approached him on his property on April 13, and that one of these persons was the Senator. He also alleged that during the encounter he was shot by one of the three persons, and that Morgan pointed a firearm at his head, and threatened to shoot him in his mouth.

More than ten weeks had passed following this alleged incident, before anyone was charged and the supposed identity of a third person claimed to have been on the scene, is not known to the public.

John himself will also be defending allegations, with the help of his lawyer Kay Bacchus-Baptiste. He is accused of, on April 13, saying to his wife “You want me to get a machine gun and kill you and your grandchildren and children and take alyo out”, and that he would chop off her neck, sacrifice her head and blood to the devil along with her and her children. Further that he told Morgan that he “had grenades and machine guns” and that she should not get in his way, or he will kill her and his wife.

Nelson took leave from his job, pending the outcome of the investigations and Morgan has, as at last Monday, applied and been allowed leave-of-absence of one month from meetings of the House of Assembly. Both defendants are represented in these matters by Counsel Ronald Marks.

All parties are on bail. Morgan is on bail in the sum of $2000, with one surety. Nelson has been granted bail in the sum of $10,000 with one surety, and John was allowed bail in the sum of $2500, in his own recognizance.