Residents of Curry’s Rest Road, Mahaut, Murphy Valerie and Taska Joseph, were both arrested and jointly charged for Robbery at the Roseau Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 19th June, 2023 to be jointly charged for Robbery.
Murphy Valerie was represented by Dawn Yearwood Stewart and Wayne Norde and Taska was represented by Zena Moore Dyer, who was not present at the initial proceeding.
Neither Valerie nor Joseph were permitted to enter a plea due to the violent nature of the offense.
When the issue of bail arose, prosecution objected to the two defendants being bailed.
Prosecution stated that an alleged firearm, which was reportedly wielded by one of the assailants, has not been recovered; the use of the alleged firearm effectively added to the concern of the rise in gun violence within society and prosecution continued that it would be in the public’s interest to keep the two accused in the police’s custody. Prosecution further asserted that Valerie’s and Joseph’s release could potentially result in the interference of the investigation; the two Mahaut natives were believed to have other accomplices and the possibility of the others being informed of the proceedings and evidence could hinder the investigating officer’s progress.
Attorney-at-Law Wayne Norde declared the Golden Rule was not being followed; he explained that the ‘Golden Rule’ was to investigate first then make an arrest but prosecution decidedly chose to firstly make an arrest and the bail objection was just a way to delay while carrying out investigations to justify the premature arrests. Norde also refuted the Prosecution’s claims of the use of a firearm; he exclaimed that the claims of firearm use were ‘weak, vague, empty and baseless’ amidst the police’s inability to locate the aforementioned weapon. Defense asserted that it is in the public interest to grant the defendants bail because the offense, for which they have been charged although serious, attracted zero or no public interest. Defense continued that Murphy Valerie has a fixed place of abode, he is gainfully employed with Gaetan Seaman as a surveyor’s assistant for ten years, he will not interfere with any witnesses, he will attend court on every adjourned date, he will obey any conditions set by the Court and he has a suitable surety to bail him.
The investigating officer was called to the stand as a part of the Defense’s mitigation. To start, he confirmed the date of the arrest was Saturday, June 17th, 2023. When asked about the existence of a video, the young police officer verified the existence of a video which allegedly incriminated Valerie, unbeknownst to the accused man. The Attorney vehemently argued that there was indeed a video but the young investigating officer was not able to identify Valerie in said video, to which the investigating officer retorted that ‘circumstances’ surrounding the investigations put the accused, Murphy Valerie on the scene.
The investigating officer then validated the Prosecution’s bail objection by stating, “If on bail, the current defendant would in fact inform the other defendants of evidence at hand. If they are imprisoned they would not inform anybody.”
He lastly stated that the investigation could take up to two weeks and there would be no objection thereafter.
After hearing both the Prosecution and the Defense, Magistrate Michael Laudat decided to adjourn the matter to the next day, Tuesday, June 20th, 2023.
Murphy Valerie and Taska Joseph reappeared at the Roseau Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, June 20th, 2023 for the continuation of the bail hearing.
Bail for both of the accused individuals was not granted and both accused were
remanded in custody. In the case of a change of circumstance, the Defense was informed that they were free to make another application for the grant of bail or the defense is free to make an application to the High court in respect of bail.
