In one of 116 matters for adjudication in the September Assizes, the St. George’s High Court on Thursday pushed back sentencing for St. Andrew Builder Charles Roderique, who was convicted of Unlawful Carnal Knowledge in an 18-year-old matter by a 9-member jury of his peers in June this year.
Roderique was scheduled for sentencing before High Court Judge Madam Justice Paula Gilford at the St. George’s Number One High Court on Thursday, however, the matter was adjourned to October 21st pending the completion of the Social Inquiry and other reports.
The 51-year-old, who was previously granted bail on the charge was remanded to the Richmond Hill Prison upon his conviction in June.
Roderique, who is being represented in the matter by Attorney Anselm Clouden was arrested and charged with the offense of Defilement of a Female under the age of 13 in 2006.
His matter is one of 57 sex-related matters dominating the September Assizes list and one of 88 matters that have been traversed from the April session.
Out of the 57 sex-related matters, 23 of the matters listed involved sexual intercourse with children.
There are 20 rape matters, and 14 involving incest, sexual assault and indecent assault. A total of 28 new cases are on the September cause list.
Among, the persons appearing in court for mention before Justice Gilford on Thursday was 19-year-old Damien Belfon of Sendall Street, Grenville, St. Andrew, who was indicted on a Non-Capital Murder charge in connection with the March 5, 2022 stabbing death of a fellow villager, 18-year-old Guyanese national Dominic Fields.
Fields succumbed to a stab wound to his neck in what went down as the second homicide to be recorded in 2022.
Belfon, who was 18 years old at the time of the incident is being represented by Attorney Jerry Edwin, who took the matter to the High Court via paper committal.
He was placed on $50, 000.00, with two (2) sureties in April 2022.
As part of the bail conditions, Belfon is required to report to the Grenville Police Station twice weekly.
His matter is among 25 homicides down for adjudication in the new assizes. There are three (3) Capital murder cases, 15 for Non-Capital Murder, and seven (7) for Manslaughter.
Additionally, there are 16 non-fatal offences matters to be heard which include four (4) for Maiming, Dangerous Harm five (5), Grievous Harm four (4), Dangerous Drugs four (4), and 11 for property related offenses including stealing, robbery and arson.
Grenada currently has only one (1) sitting criminal Judge in the person of Justice Paula Gilford.