The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

MARCH 27 was the date given to Geoffrey Farquharson to explain to Justice Bernard Turner why he should not be held in contempt for statements he made during the Marco Archer murder trial.

After numerous scheduled hearings were delayed for various reasons last October, the case continued in the Supreme Court yesterday where the judge and Garvin Gaskin, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, cited statements of Mr Farquharson.

The transcripts will be made available on February 17 to Mr Farquharson and the Crown to review and the defence attorney will be allowed to respond as to why he should not be held in contempt.

If Farquharson’s explanation is satisfactory to the court, the matter will end. If not, the court will move on to punishment.

Farquharson represented 39-year-old convicted child killer Kofhe Goodman between April 17 and August 2, 2013.

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

Farquharson and Justice Turner had many 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 has said 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 said.

The judge, however, said the court would stay its hand at the time “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.

The judge dismissed the application and the subsequent request for Mr Farquharson to be allowed to withdraw as Goodman’s attorney.

Goodman is appealing his conviction and death sentence.