The corruption trial of former junior minister Kern
Spencer was adjourned Monday.
The presiding magistrate decided to halt the trial, citing concern that defence attorneys have not been given adequate time to get full instructions from Mr. Spencer and his co-accused Coleen Wright.
The two are accused of stealing millions of dollars from the Cuban Light Bulb programme.
Over the past two weeks, Mr. Spencer's attorneys have been clamouring for an adjournment on the grounds that they have not been given full disclosure in the case.
The attorneys have been accusing the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn, of trying to ambush them as they try to prepare a defence for Mr. Spencer and Ms Wright.
Their quest last week to stall the case were rejected, however, on Monday senior magistrate Judith Pusey threw them a lifeline.
Following last week's application by the DPP to amend the charges, the magistrate declared on Monday that the defence must be given enough time to seek fresh instructions from their clients.
The DPP had described the changes as cosmetic, citing mistakes on the part of the police in laying the charges.
But this has drawn fire from senior defence attorney K.D. Knight who accused the DPP of incompetence and trying to lay blame on the police.
He claimed that for 14 months the DPP has been engaged in a public relations stunt instead of providing the defence with all the relevant information required in the case.
He said the amendments being sought amounted to new changes and this has placed him at a disadvantage.
However, the DPP stood her ground and urged the magistrate to give them until Tuesday to get full instructions.
The magistrate however disagreed with this position.
The trial is now scheduled for July 27.
Mr. Spencer and Ms Wright are accused of corruption and money laundering arising from the 2006 Cuban Light Bulb programme.
The DPP says she will prove that Mr. Spencer and Ms Wright were involved in criminal conduct in the light bulb project.
The presiding magistrate decided to halt the trial, citing concern that defence attorneys have not been given adequate time to get full instructions from Mr. Spencer and his co-accused Coleen Wright.
The two are accused of stealing millions of dollars from the Cuban Light Bulb programme.
Over the past two weeks, Mr. Spencer's attorneys have been clamouring for an adjournment on the grounds that they have not been given full disclosure in the case.
The attorneys have been accusing the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn, of trying to ambush them as they try to prepare a defence for Mr. Spencer and Ms Wright.
Their quest last week to stall the case were rejected, however, on Monday senior magistrate Judith Pusey threw them a lifeline.
Following last week's application by the DPP to amend the charges, the magistrate declared on Monday that the defence must be given enough time to seek fresh instructions from their clients.
The DPP had described the changes as cosmetic, citing mistakes on the part of the police in laying the charges.
But this has drawn fire from senior defence attorney K.D. Knight who accused the DPP of incompetence and trying to lay blame on the police.
He claimed that for 14 months the DPP has been engaged in a public relations stunt instead of providing the defence with all the relevant information required in the case.
He said the amendments being sought amounted to new changes and this has placed him at a disadvantage.
However, the DPP stood her ground and urged the magistrate to give them until Tuesday to get full instructions.
The magistrate however disagreed with this position.
The trial is now scheduled for July 27.
Mr. Spencer and Ms Wright are accused of corruption and money laundering arising from the 2006 Cuban Light Bulb programme.
The DPP says she will prove that Mr. Spencer and Ms Wright were involved in criminal conduct in the light bulb project.
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