Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 19, 2013 News
The two accused in the burning down of the Ministry of Health building on Brickdam four years ago will have to wait until next week to know how long they will have to spend in prison for the crime.
Magistrate Judy Latchman, on Monday, set June 27 as the date when she will hand down sentences on Colin Jones and Clayton Westford after she found them guilty at the conclusion of an exhausting trial.
Westford who was out on bail was remanded to prison pending his sentence while Jones is already in custody on other matters, including murder.
The Magistrate had earlier ruled that a prima facie case was made out against the two accused. This was after Defence Counsel Michael Somersall had made a no case submission on behalf of his client Westford, citing the lack of evidence from the fire department. Somersall had argued that at no time did any individual of the department participate in giving evidence. He also pointed out that the proof to support the theory of arson was never tendered before the court.
The lawyer also spoke of the fact that then Minister of Health, Leslie Ramsammy, in giving his evidence, stated that he was the last person to leave the building, prior to which he had consumed hot and cold beverages.
The Minister, he recounted, could not say what was used to prepare the beverages.
Magistrate Latchman overruled the lawyer’s submission.
The blaze which destroyed the entire building at the Ministry of Health on July 16, 2009, was labeled as an act of domestic terrorism by law enforcement authorities.
The fire, believed to have been sparked by channa bombs, completely destroyed the Ministry of Health’s main building and an annexe at Brickdam in the wee hours of the aforementioned date.
It destroyed records, vehicles and a string of key divisions, which was a major blow to the health sector. Following the inferno, a bottle containing channa, combustion fuel and a wick was reportedly recovered from the crime scene.
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