Two women, accused of uttering forged documents at the St Ann’s Bay Court house, face the possibility of answering the charges in the circuit court.
This is due to the fact that the parish court does not have the jurisdiction for a trial to commence in the matter.
These developments were revealed when the matter was brought before the St Ann Parish Court on Wednesday, May 3.
Charged with uttering forged documents are Jo-Ann Hunter and Jeremina Campbell.
The crown prosecutor explained in court to presiding parish judge Peter Wilson that the matter was set for trial in December of last year. However, the matter should not be set for trial in the parish court, but for hearing, as the parish court cannot deal with the matter. The law states that forgery matters dealing with land titles are to be dealt with by the high court (or circuit court).
The prosecutor further indicated that the statements are not in compliance with the Committal Proceedings Act (CPA).
The attorney representing Jo-Ann Hunter, Peter McHugh, who also held proceedings for attorney Kristopher Nathan, who represents the other accused, Jeremina Campbell, explained that it has been almost two years that the matter has been before the court.
He further pointed out that the case had been before the courts ten times before the revelation was made that the matter could not be tried by the parish court.
Judge Wilson later explained to both accused women that “somebody made a mistake” and in accordance to statute “this court (the parish court) could not commence trial in the matter.”
He further told them that the matter had to be heard to determine if enough evidence was there to make out a case against them to commit the matter to the circuit court or dispose of the matter.
The files (also called bundles) are to be served on the attorneys in the case on or before August 3.
The hearing into the matter will commence on September 18.
Campbell and Hunter had their bails extended by Judge Wilson.
The investigating officer reported to the court when the matter first appeared, that on July 13, 2015, two women came to the court office to stand bail for an accused man, Roshad Moss, who had been charged in relation to accessory to murder and illegal possession of firearm. Moss had been offered bail in a specific sum.
One of the women brought a bail bond to the court office. It had the official stamp of a justice of the peace (JP). There was also a land title with the name Jeremina Campbell to serve the purpose as bail bond. Persons at the court office became suspicious of the documents and made check at the National Land Agency (NLA) about the land title.
The person at the court office was asked to fax a copy of the land title to them. The checks were made and these checks revealed that the official title of the land bears the name Jennifer Campbell. The two women, Jo-Ann Hunter and Jeremina Campbell were subsequently taken into custody.
Defense attorney, Peter McHugh told senior parish judge Andrea Thomas in a bail application at the time for Jo-Ann Hunter that he saw nothing on the file that warranted his client being in custody. He argued that it cannot be proven that she forged any documentation. Mr. McHugh went on further to argue that Jo-Ann Hunter was from St. Andrew and knew the accused that the bail was being granted for, through previous interactions from a bar she operated.
Further, he had said that the clerk in the statement said she saw one woman hand in the document.
