Justice delayed could lead to serious medical problems for an alleged victim of unlawful and malicious wounding, argued Crown Counsel Herbert Potter on Tuesday in Magistrates’ Court.
The trial of Vernard Leonard, who was charged in February 2012, was adjourned yet again over strenuous objections from Mr. Potter.
The prosecutor said the complainant has mouth damage that is getting worse with time: His gum is receding, and he needs an implant before it recedes any further, or the injury will be unfixable.
But the complainant can’t undergo medical treatment until he reaches a settlement with Mr. Leonard, according to Mr. Potter.
He added that Mr. Leonard has had multiple attorneys over the last two years who have asked for adjournments for a variety of reasons. The final adjournment in the matter was supposed to be on Feb. 25, and the defendant promised to reach some sort of agreement and make a first payment, but he has made no such effort, according to the prosecutor.
The attorney representing Mr. Leonard this week, Patrick Thompson, explained his request for adjournment by saying that he was only temporarily holding the case for another attorney.
He also disputed Mr. Potter’s claim that Mr. Leonard hasn’t tried to settle with the alleged victim, saying that the defendant made a counterproposal to an initial settlement offer and hasn’t received a response.
He added that Mr. Leonard can’t make any sort of initial payment until an official settlement is reached.
Finally, he said that pursuing criminal charges against the defendant won’t speed up a civil settlement between the two parties, and could in fact delay it further.
“A conviction or remand to Mr. Leonard will only do the [complainant] more injustice,” he said.
Magistrate Dr. Velon John granted another adjournment and scheduled the matter to be heard on June 2.
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