Rennie Dumas Appeals Guilty Verdict

Rennie Dumas

Former government minister Rennie Dumas is appealing a guilty ruling against him in the Scarborough Magistrates Court on June 3 for unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm against security officer Roger Simon.

On Monday, Dumas’s attorneys Keith Scotland and former attorney general John Jeremie filed the appeal on two main grounds, questioning the credibility of the evidence by the State in the matter.  

Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John brought the guilty verdict against Dumas, a former MP for Tobago East under the PNM administration, on two charges of assault.

He was ordered to pay fines totaling $18,500, failing which he could face up to three years in jail for both charges.

In their appeal, the defence attorneys are claiming that Dumas is not guilty because “the decision is unreasonable and/or cannot be supported by or having regard to the evidence”.

As to the second ground, the attorneys are claiming that “some other specific illegality substantially affecting the results of the case has been committed in the course of the proceedings in the case”.

The case against Dumas stemmed from a dispute with Simon at Arnos Vale, Plymouth, on June 1, 2011. 

Dumas was alleged to have struck Simon in his face with his (Dumas’) licensed firearm, knocking out several of his teeth, over the alleged theft of property belonging to Dumas’ family on land near Arnos Vale.

However, the firearm was never taken for forensic testing and therefore was never established to be the weapon of assault in the incident.  

Source:trinidadexpress

Rennie Dumas Escapes Jail but Fined

FREE TO GO: Former PNM minister Rennie Dumas, left,
speaks to his attorney, former attorney general John Jeremie
outside the Scarborough Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
 —Photo: ELIZABETH WILLIAMS

Former PNM government minister Rennie Dumas escaped jail time when he reappeared in the Scarborough Magistrates’ Court yesterday and expressed relief in the verdict but plans to appeal the case, as he claims he never hit security guard Roger Simon, and his conviction is most unjust. 

Dumas before Magistrate Nannette Ford-John, who wasted no time in delivering her verdict in the matter. Magistrate Ford-John made her determination under the Offences Against the Person Act, handing down the charge as follows:  On the charge of common assault Dumas was told to pay $3,500 or nine months hard labour, and on the charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm $15,000 or two years hard labour. 

Dumas has 30 days within which to pay the fines and 14 days to lodge an appeal in the matter. Dumas told the Express, while he is happy to not face a prison sentence justice was not served in the matter and he will appeal the sentence. Dumas  said his lawyers, former attorney general John Jeremie SC and Keith Scotland must be highly commended for representing him in the matter, however  some serious questions now arise with respect to the justice system in this country.

“I am clear that I did not hit that man with any gun so there was no brandishing with a firearm, and there was no hitting with a firearm. The way in which the evidence was handled on the other side is that the police refused to carry the gun that they were holding , that they were accusing me of hitting him with, for forensic testing,” Dumas said.

Dumas said he is clear therefore that the conviction cannot stand, the conviction is unjust and therefore it should be treated as such. 

“Despite the question of not being incarcerated , the question of your reputation, the question of what you have worked for all your life being turned against you.” 

Acting Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions George Busby who represented the defence told the Express he was satisfied with the outcome of the matter. Dumas, a former Member of Parliament for Tobago East, was convicted of unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm against Roger Simon and committing an act of common assault against Simon, a security officer. The matter stemmed from a dispute between Simon and Dumas, at Arnos Vale, Plymouth, on June 1, 2011. 

Source:Trinidadexpress

Rennie Dumas Found Guilty of Common Assault

Rennie Dumas-Research Officer PNM

Former PNM Government Minister and Tobago East Member of Parliament (MP) Rennie Dumas was found guilty of common assault in the case against Roger Simon. Dumas was charged for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault, arising out of an incident at Plymouth on June 1 2011.

It was alleged that Dumas struck Roger Simon, a Trinidadian who was reportedly employed in the security department at the YMCA Swimming Pool at Courland in the face with his licensed firearm, knocking out several of his teeth.

Dumas and Simon reportedly became involved in an altercation that was said to have stemmed from the alleged theft of property belonging to Dumas at premises in Plymouth on the day in question.

The magistrate indicated that she did not believe Dumas' testimony that he felt threaten and expressed concerned that the Police Officer did not take into consideration that blood was streaming down the face of Simon.

Dumas who is the research officer of the PNM-Tobago would reappear on May 2nd for Sentencing.

Rennie Dumas to Re-appear in Court on Oct 15

Former PNM Government Minister and Tobago East Member of Parliament (MP) Rennie Dumas will reappear in the Scarborough magistrates Court on October 15 as hearing continues into assault charges for which he is before the court. 

Former PNM Government Minister
Rennie Dumas

Dumas is charged separately with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault, arising out of an incident at Plymouth on June 1 last year.

It is alleged that Dumas struck Roger Simon, a Trinidadian who was reportedly employed in the security department at the YMCA Swimming Pool at Courland in the face with his licensed firearm, knocking out several of his teeth.

Dumas and Simon reportedly became involved in an altercation that was said to have stemmed from the alleged theft of property belonging to Dumas at premises in Plymouth on the day in question.

Woman Police Acting Sergeant Kathleen Sterling, attached to the Old Grange Police Station, laid the charges.

The trial opened last week Wednesday September 19 before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde John presiding in the Scarborough First Court.

Dumas is being represented by former Attorney General John Jeremie SC, instructed by Keith Scotland, while Senior State Prosecutor George Busby is leading the case for the prosecution.

Following written submissions, including statements from the virtual complainant, Simon, and other prosecution witnesses, which were read to the court by Busby, at the start of the trial, defence Attorney Jeremie, quoting several legal authorities, made a formal application to the court to cross-examine the virtual complainant on the question of evidence of bad character."

Jeremie, in his application, submitted that Simon had five previous convictions and three matters pending before the court, including house breaking, larceny, robbery and possession of a weapon. Jeremie argued that the prosecution's case was relying on the evidence of Simon, and he ought to be questioned on the issue of propensity and credibility according to the provisions of Section 15 (M1) of the Evidence Amendment Act (2009).

When hearing resumed last Tuesday September 25, Busby however, urged the court to turn down the application with respect to "evidence of bad character," claiming that the defence was trying to distract from the real issues in the case.

Busby submitted that these dated back 18 and 12 years ago when Simon was 13 and 18 years of age. He claimed that the defence was "going on a fishing expedition in the hope that they can somehow find evidence that is of substantial probative value to the matters of the case."

Busby told the court, "The application should be refused because it has not been shown that evidence of bad character is of substantial probative value to a matter of substantial importance in the case."

When the trial resumes on October 15, defence attorney Jeremie is expected to respond to Busby's arguments, following which, the Magistrate would subsequently give her ruling on the question of the defence being allowed to cross examine Simon and other prosecution witnesses on the grounds of 'evidence of bad character'.

reproduced from tobagonews.