…following 2nd request by DPP for ‘Grey Boy’ to be committed to High Court
Chaos and confusion erupted at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday morning when City Magistrate, Judy Latchman, for the second time, refused to commit Regan “Grey Boy” Rodriguez to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of political activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Alli-Hack sent another letter to Magistrate Latchman ordering her to commit Rodriguez to stand trial in the High Court for the murder today, after her first letter of request, sent yesterday, went unheeded.
Latchman read the letter to the accused which cited provisions set out in the Criminal Law Procedure Act Section 72 (2) ii (a) which allows the DPP to order that the accused be committed for the murder.
The letter in part read “I am of the opinion that a Prima Facie case has been made out against the accused and as such I order that you remit your decision and commit him to stand trial for the murder of Courtney Crum-Ewing”.
The City Magistrate first informed the accused that she will be following the law and will re-open the case.
However, upon hearing this announcement, chaos broke out as Rodriguez began to yell “two times, I was freed, I have to go back again?!”
It took Police Officers a number of minutes to restrain the accused as he on numerous occasions attempted to leave the Courtroom stating “I can’t take that!”
Rodriguez’s family members along with others present, broke down in tears at what was unfolding.
Rodriquez continued to yell “the Police put a gun in my house and no one is investigating them, god knows I didn’t do it, is my life them want!”
However, when asked by Latchman whether he would like to call any witnesses, Rodriguez said that only one man can save him and that is God.
State Attorney for the matter, Nigel Hughes did not make additional submissions.
Latchman was forced to adjourn the Court for a few minutes. However, upon her return, she stated firmly that the Court has found no Prima Facie case against the accused and as such, the court maintains its decision.
The Magistrate added that she did not find sufficient evidence for the defendant to be committed to stand trial and as such she discharged the matter again.
First request
Latchman on Tuesday refused the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP’s) first request to commit Regan “Grey Boy” Rodrigues to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of Courtney Crum Ewing.
On Monday, she threw out the case due to insufficient evidence and one day after, the Office of the DPP, through Special Prosecutor Nigel Hughes, made the request to have her commit Rodrigues to stand trial in the High Court.
On Monday, Rodrigues was set free for a second time after the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to link him to the murder of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing.
In making her ruling, the Magistrate considered all of the facts presented to her. She highlighted evidence given by Crime Scene Analyst, Delicia Brown, whose submission to the court revealed that the .32 pistol and five .32 bullets found at the accused’s home was indeed the said gun used in the execution of Crum-Ewing.
However, she stated that no actual evidence was presented to the court to prove that Rodrigues pulled the trigger, thus committing the heinous act, even though 14 witness statements alleged such.
She also alluded to the facts that the oral statements given by Rodrigues during the course of the investigation did not implicate him in the killing, and as such he had no case to answer to.
Crum-Ewing was gunned down as he was, at the time, urging residents of Diamond to cast their ballots in the May 2015 elections.
Months after, Rodrigues was arrested and charged with the murder but was freed in September of 2016.
However, in April of 2017, he was rearrested after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ordered that the case be reopened.
