By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A POLICE Sergeant gave testimony yesterday at the opening of the libel trial of the man accused of defaming former Water and Sewerage Corporation Executive Chairman Adrian Gibson.
Sgt Travis Strachan, attached to the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Financial Crime Investigations Unit, took the stand before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt, testifying of his involvement in the January arrest of Gregory Miller.
Miller is charged with attempted intentional libel and intentional libel after prosecutors alleged he transferred $200 to Mr Gibson’s Royal Bank of Canada account in an attempt to defame him in December 2018.
He is further accused of causing the publication of defamatory matter concerning Mr Gibson on a Jones Communication Network television programme in June 2019.
However, Miller has denied the allegations.
During yesterday’s trial, Sgt Strachan recalled how he had received information concerning a complaint made against Miller on January 12.
He told the court that at around 10am that day he approached Miller and informed him of the libel complaint made against him by Mr Gibson.
The police sergeant said he subsequently cautioned Miller and helped transport him to the Nassau Street Police Station for further processing.
He also said he believed Miller’s attorney was present during his arrest.
The next witness called to take the stand was Tennille Burrows, manager at the Royal Bank of Canada’s Carmichael Branch.
While giving testimony, Burrows recalled how she was engaged by a colleague in January 2019 to assist with an investigation launched by Mr Gibson concerning an unknown deposit that was entered into his account the year before.
Burrows went on to disclose her findings, but was unable to complete her testimony after Miller’s attorney, Ian Cargill interjected, insisting that some of her evidence given was based on documents that were not before the courts.
Mr Cargill conceded that because the documents were not entered in as exhibits for evidence, he did not have a chance to review them.
“As far as I know, the law states that you can’t refer to the contents of documents unless it’s exhibited. I see nothing before the court,” he argued.
However, prosecutor Clifford Daxon countered that Mr Cargill had in his possession all of the witness statements and should have made known any issues he may have had in advance.
Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt agreed with Mr Cargill, saying his lack of access to the documents which she said formed the “basis” of the case placed him and his client at a disadvantage.
As a result, the Chief Magistrate adjourned the case to Thursday, December 16.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.