By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
THE Office of the Attorney General will not be handling the prosecution of a lawyer accused of defaming two of the most senior ranked officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, The Tribune has learned.
Maria Daxon, a former police constable and vocal defender for the rights of police officers, appeared before Magistrate Andrew Forbes on Wednesday for the expected start of her summary trial concerning two counts of intentional libel concerning alleged statements written about Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade and Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Bethell.
When the matter was called, however, no representatives from the Crown was present.
Police prosecutor Ercell Dorsett said he understood that the file was in the Crown’s possession, as he only had the docket concerning the charges.
The police prosecutor said he understood that to mean that they would prosecute the matter.
However, Magistrate Forbes said he had no instructions or understanding of the same given that the accused had elected summary trial.
An email correspondence leaked to this newspaper yesterday concerned a “Request Status Update” of the case by Daxon’s staff to the Crown on Tuesday 11.03am.
A response from personnel of the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of the Legal Affairs four hours later at 3.02pm, stated: “Please be informed that the Office of the Attorney General will not be prosecuting this matter.”
“This matter is in the hands of Police Prosecutions,” the note concluded.
It is alleged that Daxon, between August 26 and August 30, wrote defamatory statements about Commissioner Greenslade and ACP Bethell, which were likely “to injure and expose” the officers to “general hatred, contempt or ridicule.”
In her initial arraignment in September, Daxon elected to have the matter heard in Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
She was initially denied bail but a day later her lawyers, Glendon Rolle and Wilver Deleveaux successfully applied for bail in the Supreme Court.
An adjournment was proposed for March 14, 2017.
Mr Deleveaux held brief for lead lawyer Fred Smith, QC, on Wednesday and said he would have to confirm with Mr Smith if that was a convenient date for trial.
Daxon remains on $100 bail.
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