Legal wrangling over whether PM Hinds’ son should face fresh trial

Last Updated on Friday, 20 March 2015, 10:37 by GxMedia

Legal wrangling continue in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court over whether the son of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds should be sentenced for unlawful wounding or he should face a new trial because the magistrate who convicted him has been fired.

He is Samuel Hinds Jr.

When the matter came up again on Thursday before the new City Magistrate, Annette Singh, she gave the Prosecution until April 8 to make submissions based on advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Defence Lawyer, Peter Hugh is expected to respond to the submission by Prosecutor, Police Corporal Renetta Bentham.

Magistrate Singh on Thursday opined that Hinds Jr. has been already convicted for the offence by a magistrate and that he should be sentenced. She added that the only basis for the trial to restart is if he appeals the guilty verdict.

Hinds,33, was convicted on February 6 by now dismissed Magistrate, Geeta Chandan-Edmond. She was scheduled to sentence him on February 20, the same day she was fired by the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).

He was found guilty of wounding his sister-in-law, Tenza Layne, on February 27, 2014 during an altercation over her alleged stealing of his phone. During the trial, the court heard that Hinds stomped the teenager, dragged her on the ground and beat her with a cane.  He also brandished and cranked a handgun while threatening to kill her.