The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

GEOFFREY Farquharson’s court appearance to explain his conduct during the Marco Archer murder trial has been postponed until December 5, he told The Tribune.

Mr Farquharson was initially scheduled to appear before Justice Bernard Turner yesterday to explain his controversial words and actions during the trial.

Yesterday, he said Justice Bernard Turner postponed the matter until next month, and that he is presently off the island.

Mr Farquharson represented 39-year-old convicted child killer Kofhe Goodman between April 17 and August 2.

Goodman was found guilty of killing 11-year-old Marco Archer of Brougham Street and was sentenced to death.

Farquharson and Justice Turner had many tense exchanges during the trial.

In one instance on July 18, Justice Turner told Farquharson that he was in contempt of court because of his conduct and choice of words.

The lawyer appeared to be angry over his missing notes and exclaimed that the Bahamian people were wondering what was going on in the trial.

He said they needed to know what Bernard Turner was doing.

“You are in contempt of court!” Justice Turner told the lawyer.

“Very well, m’Lord, if that’s what the court believes, the court knows what to do!” the lawyer replied.

The judge, however, said the court would stay its hand on that issue “in the interest of justice to your client”.

He gave Mr Farquharson 45 minutes to get the notes he needed to question forensic analyst Marisa Roe, who was to give evidence through live link video-conferencing.

Three weeks before this, Mr Farquharson applied for the judge to recuse himself from the case because of what the lawyer claimed was a conflict of interest.

However, the judge dismissed the application and the subsequent request for Mr Farquharson to withdraw as Goodman’s attorney.