A three-judge panel of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Appeal led by Chief Justice Janice Pereira began sitting in the Virgin Islands Monday.

The court, which travels throughout the nine jurisdictions of the ECSC, is scheduled to hear two criminal and eight civil appeals during its sitting.

Marian Walters, who received a five-year prison sentence in 2011 after she pleaded guilty to importing 2.08 kilograms of cocaine, was scheduled to have her sentence reviewed by the court Monday.

The appeal of Winston Blackette, who was convicted in 2011 on four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 16 and sentenced to four years in prison, is scheduled to be heard Tuesday.

The civil appeal of the attorney general against Julian Willock is also scheduled for Tuesday.

Mr. Willock, a former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, successfully sued the government in 2011, alleging that a committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing made against him was improperly formed. The attorney general is challenging the High Court ruling on the matter.

See the Jan. 17, 2013 edition for full coverage.