By Adrian Frater, News EditorWESTERN BUREAU:
SUPT. NEWTON Amos, head of the St. James Police Division, says the granting of bail to persons facing serious charges is contributory to the recent upsurge in murders in the parish.
Citing five murders committed in the Glendevon area in the last two weeks, he said killings had stopped while certain individuals, whom he named, were in police custody but had started again since they were released on the bail.
"What is the sense in us going out there and arresting these guys only to see the court releasing them back into the community?" Supt. Amos asked. He said he fully endorsed the Bail Act, but would wish to see judges being less liberal in offering bail to persons facing serious charges such as murder and shooting.
STICK WITH LAW
But Valrie Stephens, Senior Resident Magistrate for St. James, said that Resident Magistrates were duty-bound to conform to the law, including the Bail Act, and would continue to do so.
"The law says a person is entitled to bail, except under certain circumstances, like if we feel that they would abscond or not likely to turn up for trial, or if they are going to interfere with witnesses," Ms. Stephens said. "If they can show they can turn up for trial, we have no reasons not to grant bail."
However, Supt. Amos said that when certain "dangerous criminals" were released on bail and went back into communities such as Glendevon, it sometimes adversely affected the ability of the police to conduct fruitful investigation, especially with regard to getting information from witnesses.
FOLKS AFRAID
"Why do you believe some witnesses are afraid to come forward and give statements?" Supt. Amos asked. "They are afraid of what is likely to happen to them when these guys go before the courts, get bail and then return to the community."
Attorney-at-law Clayton Morgan, president of the Cornwall Bar Association, like Ms. Stephens, seems to have no problem with the court's bail policy. According to him, the court should always operate on the principle that "a person is innocent until proven guilty."
"The Bail Act states that everyone has a right to bail, except in certain circumstances," said Mr. Morgan. "I don't know what the superintendent is talking about, because the procedures are quite clear."
However, Supt. Amos said he did not want his action to be misconstrued as picking a fight with the courts. According to him, all he wants is for judges to give greater consideration to the concerns of the police in releasing "dangerous criminals" on bail.
