Judge who presided in US extradition case appointed BVI magistrate

Shawn Innocent, the magistrate who presided over a recent US extradition case involving two BVI locals has been appointed to the post of full-time Magistrate in the British Virgin Islands.

His appoint took effect on September 3 and will last for six months.

Magistrate Innocent is to act as a replacement for Magistrate Ayanna Baptiste-DaBreo who is on medical leave.

His responsibilities include trying persons charged with summary offences, conducting preliminary inquiries into indictable offences, among other responsibilities, government has said.

“Magistrate Innocent will provide much-needed support to Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards in addressing the backlog of cases created as a result of the damages sustained to the Magistrate Court buildings following Hurricane Irma. Along with the additional magistrates, we are well on our way to ensuring that a sense of normalcy is restored to this aspect of the judicial system,” said Acting Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Carolyn Stoutt Igwe.

His appointment follows the appointment of three additional Magistrate’s Giselle Jackman-Lumy, Hakim Creque, and Christilyn Benjamin on July 25.

Magistrate Innocent was called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in 1996 and specialises in the areas of criminal law, civil litigation, corporate law, and general legal practice.