Disgraced ex-deacon to face trial on May 3
March 09, 2010
Former church deacon, 49-year-old Donovan Jones, who is charged with human trafficking involving a 14-year-old schoolgirl, is to face trial on May 3 in the Home Circuit Court.
The case was set for trial Monday but had to be put off because the investigating officer was unavailable. The other witnesses in the case did not attend and the court was told that the police were in contact with them.
Supreme Court judge Lloyd Hibbert was not happy with the arrangement.
"The Crown does not grant adjournments and the Crown is not obliged to tell witnesses not to come to court," the judge emphasised. The judge warned that if cases were ready and could not proceed because witnesses were told not to come, that could be treated as contempt of court on the part of the Crown. Witnesses must come to court so they can be bound over for another date if the case is not proceeding, the judge said.
Granted bail
Jones was granted bail after he was arrested and charged in 2006. He is being represented by attorney-at-law Paul Beswick....
Author: Gleaner Reporter
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
