Smiths cleared in Almestica guns and drug trial
Jennifer Smith and Shamal Smith walked free from the High Court on Thursday after being acquitted of all charges linked to the ongoing Jose Almestica criminal trial.
Justice Theresa Hadad directed not guilty verdicts for both Smiths following a no-case submission by their defence attorney, Israel Bruce. The Judge also noted that the Crown had entered what is known as nolle prosequi — a formal decision to discontinue prosecution — in respect of several counts in the indictment.
Justice Hadad explained that the effect of the nolle prosequi being entered was that the accused were discharged, so there was no decision for the court to make.
Jennifer and Shamal faced multiple charges, including assisting another in the benefit of criminal conduct, possession of forged currency notes, possession of prohibited weapons, and unlawful possession of explosives. These charges, along with others, were either quashed by the judge or dropped by the prosecution.
Justice Hadad directed verdicts of not guilty on all remaining counts involving the Smiths, including harbouring a prisoner, possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply, possession of prohibited weapons, possession of unlicensed firearms, and unlawful possession of explosives.
The Smiths were closely linked to the case involving Renee Smith and Jose Almestica, in what prosecutors alleged was a wide-ranging criminal enterprise involving drugs, firearms, counterfeit currency and harbouring a fugitive.
Renee Smith and Almestica still face multiple charges ranging from possession of criminal proceeds to firearms offences.
Almestica, a former fugitive from justice, was arrested in 2021 after escaping lawful custody following the 2017 passage of Hurricane Irma while being held as a remanded inmate in the Balsam Ghut prison. He is facing several charges, including possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of explosives, possession of forged currency, possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply, and possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct.
After taking evidence from several witnesses, the Crown rested its case this week. The defence declined to call any witnesses to the stand. Proceedings against the remaining accused are expected to continue with attorneys making closing remarks before Justice Hadad in the coming days.
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Just How??
Cause partying and befriending an escaped con is not a crime. Bad judgement but not criminal.
Another loss!!!
Why you don’t say fire the doggone Police. They have no clue what the hell they are doing when they go to a crime scene. They show up and cannot go to Court after and give a lick of evidence. That is the problem. The police officers need training. What a set of losers. Only here for the American Dollar as well. I always say when we get full crew of Doctors, Police and Nurses without at least half locals in the mix we would be in big trouble. We are simply done. Dog is better than us, for we are there now. Vultures, locusts. Humphhhh.
The police is to blame YES. But the DPP is also to blame because she takes these matters before the court without properly reviewing the evidence provided by the police. The DPP has a right to not lay any complaints before the court and she still sends them through even when told it is a waste of time.
The DPP can also advise the police for further actions when the file comes to her office. If the police did not do something right and she was unable to pick up on it when its comes to prosecuting then she also does not know what she is doing. She also does training for the police, she should be able to guide them as to what can help with successful prosecutions when gathering evidence. But instead she bashes them just like you did
The government is lucky people are not suing them because of her nonsense. And all she will do after losing is appeal the matters to make it look like she is doing something. When she should have been doing something from the first instance.
This place just needs to legalize guns and ammunition because nobody gets convicted of having these things in their possession.
But once it is weed, you are dead.
This place is sickening
well at least vino allows us to express our thoughts unlike bvinews same news site that prop up nyron aka yo killa funeral on them Instagram and jose is allegedly yo killa boy so hmmmm
anyways those two that got off faced a charge of possession of prohibited weapons…..so now them free to roam again and get …
dpp mehson
YES I! Bless
Good ole justice system in the bwwwiiii. I would have liked the police to look into all the murders that happened after the lil d£m●n escaped,but where will justice be served? Being hoisted by the undertaker seems fitting for such a lifestyle.
Had to be beaten playing on an away ground, home field advantage in the BVI is just too great! No point in having all of these new statutes if the legal system in the BVI recognizes F&F and gives them a free pass! Same old same old corrupt to the core.
Right no one knew where he was hiding and none of them brought him food. This place is less. Those type of murders dont act alone.
If they will let c****nal associates loose over and over then everyone else need to take security seriously. These c****nals building up they have no where to go.
Of course they were.
at least we can comment now thanks bvi news ig
i know this is alllegedly nyron boi here so kinda funny
but yea another g***an back on the road to find more g**s
Is there a bigger joke than this place? Cr****als literally walk free here. Such a joke.
legal decisions wreak of corruption.
They need to eliminate the jury system. Too often, juries are made up of people who lack legal knowledge, understanding and basic common sense.
“Justice Theresa Hadad directed not guilty verdicts for both Smiths following a no-case submission by their defence attorney, Israel Bruce.”
Did you even read that quotation from the news report (and understood it), or you just looked at the headline? It’s the second paragraph by the way.
It means that the DPP failed to produce enough evidence to require the Defendants to respond – the Judge accepted that the DPPs case was so hopeless there was no point in it going to the jury. it is an complete failure by the DPP yet again.
A No Case submission means that it didn’t reach the jury.
This is a travesty. This is a breakdown of a bigger issue.
up bro
Smith last name comes from Blacksmiths…
NOT BECAUSE THE JUDGE AGREED WITH THE NO CASE SUBMISSIOM GUESS WHAT THEY WHAT THEY GOT THEM SELVES INTO MESS IN THE PUBLIC THEY ARE * AS HELĹ TIME WILL TELL KARMA IS A SON OF B%$CH
The DPP can’t get the cases to the jury. That is the problem. This rests squarely with the DPP.
Business people with kids go free…
She is nothing, if not consistent. Consistently woeful.
When she is the last bastion of hope for criminal justice, what hope do we have?
Sack her and instruct someone who isn’t a charlatan.
Sad,these inquisitive can’t leave people alone crac++rs are digusting putrid and irritating every day, every article.
Longer than twine..especially when your unprotected.. informers.Dem sing a sweet tune probably.
@The DPP Needs To B Fired remember that a year ago a case was brought against someone who had nothing to do with a boat accident. A 3-week trial and the jury said ‘not guilty” in an hour. The real joke is the person who caused the accident went charged with no wrongdoing. RIP Frandie.
RUN THINGS /THESE DAYS WE KNOW WHO IS WHO BY THEIR ACTIONS IN THE SO CALLED JUSTICE SYSTEM / THE SAME THING KEEPS REPEATING ITSELF SO WE CAN PREDICT THE THE OUTCOME BEFORE THE CASE EVEN BEGIN • SO WE BETTER REALIZE THAT THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTO ILLEGAL CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS HAVE THRIR PEOPLE WORKING EVERYWHERE SND IN EVERY BUSINESS / ORGANIZATIONS ETC SO DON’T BE SUPPRISED ALL OF THEM HAS A ROLE TO PLAY AND IF THEY FAIL ,THEY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SIMPLE PHONE CALL OR A SIGN ETC , AND ITS BUSINESS ASUSUAL
I miss Redhead. God rest his soul, but I miss him. That’s all.
Every case covered except the one on the lady reporter, who is out parrying like it’s 1999.