Third Person in Cornelius John Shooting Case Revealed by Lawyer
On Monday night (July 5), it was revealed by lawyer Kay Bacchus Baptiste that Vernon Adams is the third person in the Cornelius John shooting case who has been elusive for more than two months.
Cornelius John has long stated that on April 13, three persons came to his home, where he was maltreated, threatened, and shot. However, when the DPP laid charges in the matter seventy-three days after, only two persons were charged.
Charges were laid against Senator Ashelle Morgan and Assistant DPP Karim Nelson. Cornelius John, the victim who was shot, was slapped with three charges.
On Monday night, Lawyer Kay Bacchus Baptiste said that when she finally received the disclosure in her client’s matter, she became deeply saddened by the administration of justice in the country.
“The eyewitnesses who were present and who could tell you whether or not a cutlass was there, what happened to Mr John, whether he said the things they said he was shouting and saying the person disappeared. There is no disclosure, which means they don’t intend to call the main witnesses in this matter”.
“I have told you from day one, the police who came on the scene took up the shell, took photographs, the phonographs will show there was no cutlass present, no mention of that. What kind of DPP do we have, what kind of Commissioner of Police we have, and what kind of National Security Minister we have in St Vincent. This is a sad, dark moment for us”.
Bacchus Baptiste said the constitution guarantees innocence until proven guilty, and she stands by that. However, the DPP has to ensure that when she brings a case, the evidence that is best suited to win that case must come before the courts.
“If I did not have a clue that a third person existed who gave a statement to the police, the public would never know, the case will go through as if the only persons who were there were the three of them. Vernon Adams, Ashelle Morgan, and Karim Nelson”.
“Am I saying to you when our administration of justice reaches a stage where the actors who are elected and appointed and who are supposed to make sure that justice is done, that no one is above the law, that there is equality before the law when we cannot guarantee that, it is pandemonium”
The matter, which was to be heard on July 5, was adjourned to August 17, 2021.
