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After being committed to stand trial in the High Court last Friday by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson,Arizona Diamondbacks Kevin Jepsen Jersey, embattled promoter Colin Mack was yesterday granted $250,000 bail in the High Court by Chief Justice Ian Chang. He was also ordered to lodge his travel documents.Colin MackMack is accused of having sex with a 19-year-old without her consent, on April 12 last.According to his attorney Glenn Hanoman,Atlanta Braves Sean Rodriguez Jersey, bail was granted because there was no legal justification to deny his client. Initially,Travis Shaw Jersey, the magistrate kept denying bail although the offence is eminently bailable,New York Yankees Austin Romine Jersey, and although the preliminary inquiry had finished.Hanoman further stated that this has been a continuing trend with magistrates and prosecutors throughout Guyana, although they know that they have no legal merit to deny bail.Hanoman said that prosecutors should not “be allowed to jump up and state that people should be denied bail on any assumption that he or she may have”.He said that when bail is being objected to, the prosecution must have hard evidence to tie that person to the crime. It should not be on “speculation”.The lawyer noted that not everyone can afford to seek bail in the High Court,San Diego Padres Luis Sardinas Jersey, further noting that it’s a shame bail is denied for non-legal issues.He said that some magistrates hide behind the pretext that they are acting judicially, but in actuality they are actually acting “whimsically”.The embattled promoter was committed to stand trial at the next sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes in the High Court, for the indictable offence of rape after a “prima facie” case had been established against him.The magistrate, in her address,Wilson Ramos Jersey, had said that an “oral statement” which was given by Mack was proven to be given freely, without any inducement.Police Prosecutor Denise Griffith had objected to bail on the grounds that the accused was a flight risk,Atlanta Braves Matt Kemp Jersey, noting that Guyana’s neighbouring countries Suriname,Joe Blanton Jersey, Brazil and Venezuela are all escape routes that fleeing criminals use.The prosecutor had said that although the preliminary inquiry is over, if bail was considered, the accused may not stay for his trail in the High Court. Griffith also said that the defendant is likely to make contact with a female who aided him in the process of raping the victim.Mack had made over ten court appearances during his two-month preliminary inquiry and was represented by three lawyers mainly Glenn Hanoman. The case took many turns, with a prime piece of evidence disappearing from a police package,Ben Revere Jersey, only to reappear hours later at the East La Penitence Police Station. Another twist in the case was when a man purporting to be an officer attached at the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, was charged with trying to pervert the witness and her mother.Anthony Szala was subsequently placed on $75,000 bail by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson. |
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