Page 16 - Steadroy Benjamin News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

’Judge Only’ bill passed in Lower House, despite concerns raised Once again, the Criminal Proceedings Bill (Judge Alone Trial) was dissected by some Members of Parliament for having several discrepancies. For quite some time, members of the legal fraternity have been mulling this bill as a way to reduce the backlog of indictable cases that must go to trial, by introducing trials without a jury present. But at the last parliamentary sitting, the bill was sent back to the committee stage. A five-person committee consisting of Leader of the Opposition Jamale Pringle and MPs Trevor Walker, Sa...

AG threatens legal action over article alleging corruption Attorney General (AG) Steadroy Benjamin (file photo) Spread the love By Kadeem Joseph Attorney General (AG) Steadroy Benjamin is threatening legal action against news outlet – West Indies and Caribbean News Online or WIC News, after the publication alleged his involvement in corrupt acts. In a story released on Thursday morning, Benjamin was the only government official named in what WIC News called an investigative piece into corrupt acts in Antigua and Barbuda and “wanted wealthy businessmen.” The article, which has been widel...

A fitting send-off for Justice Iain Morley Spread the love The tenure of Justice Iain Morley as a High Court judge in Antigua and Barbuda has come to an end as the Judge has been reassigned to St. Kitts and Nevis. In recognition of his contribution to the local criminal justice system over the past four years, the Judiciary held a virtual send off for the well-learned barrister on Monday. Justice Ann-Marie Smith, who recently joined the High Court bench in Antigua as a criminal Judge replacing Justice Stanley John, was the first to thank Justice Morley for his service.

Public Safety minister to fast track independent agency to ‘police the police’ Spread the love By Orville Williams The actions of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda could come under more intense scrutiny in the near future, with the establishment of an independent body tasked with investigating complaints against its members. Public Safety Minister Steadroy Benjamin disclosed in Parliament yesterday, that efforts would be made to get that body up and running in quick time. “We intend to come back to Parliament shortly, to set up an independent body – outside of the police �...

A&B could soon see nine-member juries By Kadeem Joseph Trials that require a panel of jurors may soon be able to occur with a reduced complement after an amendment to the Jury Act 2009 received the green light in Parliament yesterday. Should the bill be made law, the number of jurors serving on a panel will be reduced from 12 to nine. Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin, who tabled the legislation during the sitting of the Lower House, explained that the government must take measures to ensure the safety of workers “in a situation where they are, by necessity, working closely with others”.