A magistrate in Dominica has granted EC$50,000 (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents) bail to a police officer charged with attempted murder as the magistrate said the court had taken a dim view of the wanton use of firearms to commit crimes.
Magistrate Michael Laudat Friday granted bail to Police Constable Ransom Frederick after indicating that the court must, among other things, look at the nature and seriousness of the offense, the character of the individual, and the penalty attached, and from all indications, he is a first-time offender.
The accused is to return to court on October 20, and must not interfere with any witnesses, surrender all his travel documents, and must not change his address without the expressed permission of the court.
Frederick is alleged to have attempted to murder Glennie Linus Bruney on the street in the capital on July 9, 2022.
Attorney Wayne Norde, one of two defense lawyers, told the court that his client would adhere to the requirements of the court, also urging that he should not be denied bail “for his own protection.”
The attorney told the court that Frederick had been attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and, during his five-year stint, had dealt with several people, some of whom are awaiting trial at the Stock Farm Prison.
“Hence, for his own protection, it will not be in the interest of justice not to grant him bail; in fact, there are pending matters of threats on his life, and some of the persons are at the prison,” Norde said, adding that the matter touches on “public interest” and presently there are various police officers on bail.
The lawyer argued that the situation involving his client is different from other gun-related matters after the magistrate had indicated that people must be able to walk the streets of Dominica freely and safely.
“He is a trained officer in relation to a firearm; he did not flee the crime scene after the incident. He remained there and immediately surrendered the firearm, so this matter should not be connected like the others as gun violence or revenge and the outcry of unlicensed firearm and ammunition,” Norde stated.
The prosecutor, Daina Matthew, told the court that this offense of “attempted murder” should be interpreted just as seriously under the Bail Act as the offense of murder.
She told the court that while the gun used was not an “unlicensed” one, nonetheless, the state appreciates that the accused is a police officer, and his safety at the prison will very well be compromised especially considering where he has been attached.
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