Friday 13 August will mark four months since 62-year-old Cornelius John was shot, beaten and threatened in the sanctity of his own home.
- This matter cries out for Justice – Kay Bacchus Baptiste Lawyer for shooting victim Cornelius John.
- Government Senator Ashelle Morgan and Assistant DPP Karim Nelson have been charged in the shooting incident.
Back Story:
On April 28th, Cornelius John, who was beaten, shot in the leg, and threatened in the sanctity of his own home, told this publication that he could only describe his perpetrators as gangsters.
Among the three whom he described as gangsters were two men and a woman. He identified the woman as Government Senator Ashelle Morgan, who is now one of two persons charged in the matter.
John said the tallest of the men walked up to him and began kicking him in the stomach, which caused him to defecate on himself.
“While I was in pain on the ground, he pulled out his gun, cranked it, and told me; you want to kill the senator, you want to kill the senator?” and he proceeded to shoot me in my foot .”
The 62-year-hypertensive told the publication in April that Morgan pointed a gun to his face and told him that she would shoot him in the mouth if he called her name in any conversation.
Charges Laid:
It took the DPP 73 days before charges could have been laid, and when they were, the victim who was beaten, shot, and threatened was slammed with three charges.
Threatening Language against Mr. Cornelius John in respect of complaints made by Mrs. Nicole John;
Threatening Language against Mr. Cornelius John in respect of a complaint made by Ms. Ashelle Morgan;
Wounding and Unlawful discharge of firearm against Mr. Karim Nelson in respect of complaints by Mr. Cornelius John; and
Assault with intent to commit Wounding against Ms. Ashelle Morgan in respect of a complaint by Mr. Cornelius John.
The Latest:
On Thursday, 12 August, Lawyer Kay Bacchus Baptiste told this publication that she is insisting that the third person be charged.
“I am still insisting that the third person be charged. We are not backing down from that. They have not charged him. They are allowing him to give evidence to support their case”.
“When I say support, I mean to support an acquittal, not a conviction, and that is wrong”.
Bacchus Baptiste told News784 that when you support the prosecution, the evidence usually leads to a conviction.
“His evidence, the third person, is tending towards an acquittal because I don’t believe what he has to say is going to be the truth”.
The matter will be heard on August 17th at the Calliaqua magistrate courts.
