Posted by newsadmin 6 days ago View profile
One of Nassau’s most criticized lawyers caused a stir in the Turks and Caicos Islands when he convinced a judge to free a murder defendant on bail.
WAYNE MUNROE, of Lockhart and Munroe, represents Cortez Simmons, the son of shipping agent, Carl “Flyer” Simmons, who is accused of the murder of Shamard Ingham.
According to the Turks and Caicos Sun, Simmons’ lawyer argued that in The Bahamas, where a murder convict faces the possibility of a death sentence, persons accused of murder have been granted bail. Persons convicted of murder in the Turks and Caicos receive a life sentence. It was also pointed out that Simmons had strong ties to the community and was not a flight risk. The Simmons murder trial has been adjourned to March.
But Simmons’ release on bail caused a stir in the community because of the serious charge.
The issue of murder suspects who get bail has also provoked local discussion. However, Chief Justice Sir Burton Hall said recently that “the concern should be the number of persons charged with serious offenses [who] have not yet been brought to trial.” Sir Burton pointed out that some of these untried suspects are still in custody.
interesting short perspective:
note Bahamas b2b caption:
http://www.bahamasb2b.com/news/story.php?title=Bahamian-Lawyers-Not-Only-Scum-in-Legal-Profession-1
http://www.star-telegram.com/245/story/379033.html
exerpt:
“Howard K. Stern, consort to professional exhibitionist Anna Nicole Smith. Remember the sordid fights over who fathered Dannielynn, where Anna Nicole would be buried and who’d get the Bahamas house? Most recently, Stern sued an author who chronicled Smith’s seamy life; the account defames him, he says.”