Whether he’s ready or not, former House of Assembly member Andre Penn is scheduled to be tried in this assizes.
Mr. Penn, who faces charges of sex crimes against a minor, told High Court Justice Nicola Byer on Tuesday that he wasn’t ready for trial because he doesn’t have an attorney.
“I’m not participating,” he said when asked to plead to the allegations.
But Ms. Byer responded by saying that Mr. Penn had more than a month to obtain legal counsel, and therefore didn’t have a valid excuse for not being prepared.
“You’re not entitled to say that,” the judge told him. “You had more than a month to get your legal representation in order.”
After trying but failing to convince Ms. Byer to postpone the trial, Mr. Penn finally pleaded not guilty to seven counts of indecent assault, two counts of sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13, and three counts of buggery.
The alleged crimes occurred between 2006 and 2008, when Mr. Penn is accused of forcing a girl to engage in various sexual acts.
Mr. Penn’s trial is scheduled to begin in early November.
“The trial will commence regardless of representation,” asserted Director of Public Prosecutions Wayne Rajbansie.