High Court Dismisses Murder Charges Against Jamaican Due to Extradition Issues
The Antiguan High Court dismissed murder charges against Methoni Vernon, citing legal irregularities in his extradition. The case, linked to a 2014 murder, faced challenges due to procedural misconduct and allegations of coercion during evidence collection. A report from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights further supported Vernon’s defense.
The Antiguan High Court dismissed murder charges against Jamaican citizen Methoni Vernon due to procedural irregularities in his extradition. Justice Tunde Bakre noted that law enforcement’s rush to prosecute undermined their case. This ruling stems from the July 2014 murder of Roy Carradice, a farmer shot during a robbery, where Vernon was a main suspect.
Vernon, who had lived in Antigua for 15 years, left after the murder and moved to Dominica. In 2016, he was detained by Dominican authorities for visa overstaying, which his defense termed a “kidnapping” instead of a legitimate extradition. Antiguan officers collaborated with Dominican authorities under former Police Commissioner Wendel Alexander to retrieve Vernon, violating legal protocols.
Prior complications included a 2018 mistrial due to alleged attorney-police misconduct. The prosecution’s crucial evidence, Vernon’s purported confession, was challenged as obtained through coercion. Defense attorney Andrew O’Kola’s arguments regarding the legality of Vernon’s extradition gained credibility with a report from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, asserting violations of his rights.
The dismissal of the murder case against Methoni Vernon reflects serious flaws in his extradition process, emphasizing the need for adherence to legal standards in extraditions. The ruling underscores the significant impact of constitutional rights and proper legal procedures on the integrity of the judicial process.
Original Source: caribbean.loopnews.com
