(CMR) Justice Russell Flint discharged a jury early this afternoon in the case of a mother and son being accused of conspiracy to defeat the course of justice. They are charged with allegations they paid off a witness to stop her from testifying against the son, Kurt Stevenson Carter.
Justice Flint shared “events, timetabling, scheduling of all conspired together to result in a situation that leaves us with very considerable regret … this trial cannot continue and I must discharge you from considerating any verdict.”
Justice Russell Flint
Justice Flint returns to the UK on Thursday.
He thanked them for their service and shared that it is “a rare factor” to have a jury trial discharged but it will now be left for the matter to be retried by another jury. The 6 women and 1 man jury were instructed not to discuss the matter with anyone and they are scheduled to return on August 16 for continued jury duty.
The trial began on August 2 with the prosecution laying out the case that mother and son paid a woman CI$2,500 and promise of another CI$7,500 to drop charges against Stevenson Carter. The woman had made serious allegations against Carter and co-dependant.
Crown Counsel Nicole Petit said t in her opening statement that Sana and Kurt Carter had created an affidavit for the woman to sign which was signed by a witness to accept $10,000 from the two men. She was also made to sign a secrecy agreement not to disclose the terms of the agreement.
Stevenson was acquitted in the case that more serious matter which gave rise to these secondary charges.
Stevenson Carter who was self-represented was informed by the judge it would be strongly advisable that he found an attorney to guide him through the tricky details of the case and represent him professionally.
He would need to have his attorney in place by August 20 which is the next mention date for the matter.
Sana Carter is represented by Dennis Brady and had her bail conditions were extended.
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