Magistrate dismisses 3-y-o case after DDP loses file
Magistrate Shawn Innocent has dismissed the three-year-old case involving Howard Hughes after learning that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions was unable to locate the accused man’s case file.
The case was also thrown out this month because a mental evaluation was not conducted on Hughes who, the court heard, was previously receiving treatment at the Safe Haven Transitional Centre on Tortola.
Hughes had appeared before the court on criminal damage and theft charges but a mental evaluation was required to determine whether he was fit to answer to the charges.
It was alleged that Hughes criminally damaged two coin washers and two coin driers on an unspecified date between the October 1 and October 15, 2015.
He also allegedly stole a number of coins valued at $300, the court heard.
He was subsequently arrested and placed on remand at Her Majesty’s Prison in Balsam Ghut.
After hearing the circumstances of Hughes’ prolonged matter, Magistrate Innocent said: “It’s almost three years … the matter is dismissed.”
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Office has to get its house in order.
Its bad for the justice system when the DPP office is dropping the ball.
Ive said this before and I will do so again:
In the spirit of justice, these cases that are snailing thru the courts for years either because of police inefficiency or lack of preparation on the DPP part should be dismissed on a case by case basis. Thats the fair thing to do.
Good call Magistrate Innocent. I guess the hurricanes ate the case file.
I agree. Sheer nonsense with some of these cases going on for years into eternity.
don’t tell me that he s—– the file too????
Wait for it…..they found the file!smh
They need to stop their civil war in that office and take care of the people’s business .
dpp office is very inefficient. prosecutors are not up to standard. Lord sends help.
That case was a waste of the court’s time from the beginning. Howard is a — man. you don’t waste tax payers money to take —— people to court