Barbados’ new Chief Justice, Patterson Cheltenham presiding over his first case in the court appeal has ruled invalid, an application for bail made on behalf of Andre Omar Jackman alias ‘Lord Evil’.
Jackman is on remand at Dodds Prison on a number of serious charges including endangering life, wounding with intent, and use of a firearm. He had been released on bail on January 9th 2019 but that bail was revoked in September that year for breach of the conditions attached.
On April 20, 2020, High Court Judge Margaret Reifer denied an application by Mr. Lashley for the reinstatement of bail pending trial.
Mr. Lashley then appealed that decision and the appeal was denied by Justice Jefferson Cumberbatch on September 1st, 2020.
The QC’s third attempt for bail for Jackman this morning went before the Appeals Court chaired by the chief justice and also comprising Justices of Appeal Rajendra Narine and Francis Bell.
The Chief Justice made a number of rulings including that the application was being made under the Criminal Appeals Act which does not apply to people who have not yet been convicted. That appeal argued before Justice Cumberbatch was misconceived in law and dealt with under a court that had no jurisdiction to hear it as presented and was therefore invalid and that as a result, that appeal was exhausted and there was no valid appeal before the current panel.
