With the rapid increase of crime in the Virgin Islands, the list of criminal assizes has continually grown over the past years, forcing the judicial system to put in longer working hours and dividing the list of criminal assizes to ease work load.

Speaking at the opening of the October assizes last Tuesday, Senior Justice Odel Adams said that with the lengthy list of criminal cases he is of the view that he would not be working on a 9-1 basis as was customary back in earlier days. Justice Adams, a native of Guyana, has served for many years presiding over criminal cases in the Eastern Caribbean and was called out from retirement to assist with the growing population of criminal cases in the VI, which is also faced with a shortage of Magistrates.

“Thanks for admitting me into the Virgin Islands, I therefore consider myself privileged to be here for the first time. I looked forward to the generosity of the people of this island,” the senior judge added.

He disclosed that this was his first official visit to the VI. Justice Adams, upon receiving a warm welcome by members of the Bar, was presented with a list of 20 criminal cases on the list of assizes, of which seven are listed as murder cases.

A summary of the cases was followed by the beginning of a trial on Wednesday, after 20 year-old Nicoy Scatliffe of Bellvue pleaded guilty to robbery charges, while his alleged accomplice charged jointly with the offence entered a not guilty plea and is expected to be sentence at the end of his accomplice’s trial.

Allegations are that on Friday September 6, 2007 at approximately 9:30 pm, Scatliffe and 21 year-old Kareem Durante, and other men wearing mask went to Spaghetti Junction in Baughers Bay, where they held up and robbed patrons of cash, cellular phones and other valuables.  Scatliffe was held later that night driving a rental vehicle in the Bellvue area. According to the Crown, a t-shirt was found in the back of the car which DNA evidence linked to Durante.

The duo was charged with robbery, in addition to one count of firearm with intent to put person in fear. Both accused were remanded to prison.

Scatliffe is being represented by Attorney-at- Law Herbert McKenzie, while Durante is represented by Margaret Price-Findlay.

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