|
|
Secko Earle Grant acquitted in Dominica Christmas day firebombing case
By TDN Wire Staff
January 22, 2015 5:33 P.M
Defendant Earle Secko Grant outside the court house in Roseau (Photo Dominicanesonline.com). |
Roseau, Dominica (TDN) Charges against one of two men charged in the 2010 Christmas firebombing of retired magistrate Glenworth O N Emanuel has been dropped.
In a preliminary hearing which played out at a Roseau Magistrates court on Wednesday, co-defendant Deny Shillingford who had earlier confessed that he carried out the fire bombing at the behest of Grant recanted his testimony.
Shillingford told the court that he had maliciously accused Grant in an effort to mislead the police “because they did me wrong in 2007.”
“I was seeking revenge. They charge me for murder of Cecil Gregory Botswain, a Vincentian national. He was considered a kingpin and wanted in the United States. Police do me wrong I was seeking revenge because I did not want to take a gun and shoot him in the head (referring to the Police Prosecutor) so I decide any big case I would mislead him.”
Following confirmation of his written testimony, lawyers for the defense requested that the case against their client be dismissed. At that point magistrate Bernard Pacquette ruled that “the Prosecution has failed to prove a prima facie case against the accused. Consequently, case against the accused is dismissed. Submission of counsel upheld. Passport is to be returned to Mr. Grant.”
Grant’s acquittal is just the latest saga in a case that has captured the imagination of the Dominican public. Police only moved to arrest Grant in May 2013, after Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Julian Prevost demanded that he return from the United States to face charges of conspiracy to commit arson.
He had left Dominica just days after the fire bombing and soon after leaving was accused by Shillingford of being the instigator behind his setting of the fire.
In August 2014 Shillingford himself narrowly escaped being killed in Antigua where he was set upon by two individuals. He returned to Dominica only to be shot by an unknown assailant. He also escaped death on that occasion.
The firebombing came just weeks after the attorney accused Stephen Isidore the lawyer of prime minister Rosevelt Skerrit on more than 42 counts of criminal misconduct surrounding the transfer of more than $7.0 million.
It is alleged that the monies were part of kickbacks paid to the Skerrit regime through the law firm of GON Emanuel where Isidore was a junior partner.
|
|
|
| Main Page
|Radio LIVE
|Cricket TV
|DA History
|Archives
|Dominica
|Photos
|Books
|Directory
