The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal yesterday called into question the efficiency of the Attorney General’s office’s handling of an appeal case.

Hilfrant Joseph, 40, and his lawyer Romona Farquharson-Seymour, appeared in the appellate court for Joseph’s expected substantive hearing against conviction and sentence for the December 6, 2002, murder of Hawkins Hill resident Christopher Butler.

However, the schizophrenic’s lawyer told the court she had yet to receive submissions from the Crown respondent’s since last month’s proceedings in which they had acknowledged receipt of her submissions.

When asked about this by the court, Ambrose Armbrister, who was not the appearing respondent on November 4, said: “I do not dispute the account of Mrs Farquharson but for whatever reason, the submissions were unable to completed.”

Appellate court president Justice Anita Allen noted that this was a recurrent issue with the Attorney General’s office in that a different counsel appeared on the adjourned date and was not prepared to proceed because they did not have original possession of the appeal, which results in delays.

“This is not a good way, not an efficient way to be handling these matters,” Justice Allen said, going on to recommend that prosecutors should maintain handling of assigned cases.

“All of these appeals are important and require careful consideration and preparation,” the appellate president added.

“It’s a good suggestion but it’s way above my pay grade” Armbrister replied.

Justice Allen said she understood this but told him “you need to impress upon your seniors that something has to change.”

Mrs Farquharson-Seymour asked the court what would happen if they were not ready on the next adjournment date, March 11 2015.

Justice Abdulai Conteh said: “You’ll know what to do.”

Justice Allen added that “we’ll just go on without their input”.

Joseph’s conviction for the stabbing murder of Butler came in November 2012, nearly a decade after Butler was stabbed in the back on his way to the laundromat.

The incident happened around 7pm as Butler made his way to the laundromat on Eighth Terrace.

Joseph, of Millers Heights, denied the murder charge throughout the trial, though he opted to remain silent, choosing to rely on the evidence produced in the trial following the close of the prosecution’s case.

He was convicted, and months later in 2013, sentenced to 35 years imprisonment.