CCJ grants leave to convicted murderer to challenge sentence
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has granted special leave to convicted murderer Gregory August to challenge his sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
The Trinidad-based CCJ is holding a historic sitting here this week. The CCJ is the final court for Belize, the country among four Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries that have replaced the London-based Privy Council with the CCJ as their court of final appeal.
In November 2012, August was found guilty of stabbing 73-year-old Alvin Robinson to death inside his home and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
August would subsequently go before the Court of Appeal where the decision to condemn him was never challenged.
His attorney, Eamon Courtenay, told reporters that his client had applied to the CCJ, the country’s final court, for permission to appeal to the CCJ and to challenge the sentence.
“One of the grounds that we had put in our notice in the application was that it is unconstitutional to sentence somebody to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. When we went into court to start making the application the court immediately said to me, “Mr Courtenay, we are concerned about Section Seven of the Constitution [of Belize]. That is that this man has been sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.”
“And so they felt that that was a matter that the Court of Appeal should consider,” he said, adding “so they are saying that the Court of Appeal should look at that. So what they did was to grant special leave for him to challenge his conviction”.
Courtenay said that the CCJ headed by its President Sir Dennis Byron agreed to send the matter back to the Court of Appeal to deal with the question of sentence and the question of a good character direction “and that the matter must be heard as quickly as possible”.
The case management for the matter is expected is set for Tuesday.
Source-CMC
Bahamas R&B singer Johnny Kemp of 'Just Got Paid' fame dies
Bahamian R&B singer Johnny Kemp, who is best known for the hit song "Just Got Paid," has died in Jamaica. He was 55.
Jamaica police said Friday that Kemp was found floating at a beach in Montego Bay on Thursday morning. It had not yet been determined how he died.
Police said Kemp arrived in Jamaica on a cruise ship but added that they did not have further details.
Reach Media Inc. said Kemp had been scheduled to be on a Caribbean cruise this week, but the U.S.-based parent company of the "Tom Joyner Morning Show" said it did not have further details.
Kemp was nominated in 1989 for a Grammy Award for "Just Got Paid" in a category that included Bobby Brown and Luther Vandross. The song was a No. 1 hit on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart.
Kemp appeared on a 2007 Keith Sweat DVD called "Sweat Hotel Live" and had been performing at musical events across the U.S. in recent years.
Source-AP
Cuban doctor praised for developing diabetic foot ulcer drug
A Cuban doctor who created a drug used to fight diabetic foot ulcers, has been lauded by his colleagues from across the globe.
Doctors at a recent Diabetic Foot Global Conference in the United States praised Dr Jorge Berlanga, who created the drug – Heberprot-B, for the success of the product as well as the work of Cuban health professionals.
According to Berlanga, doctors, particularly those in the United States are interested in the drug, noting that 70 to 80 thousand people undergo amputations in the US due to diabetes.
A diabetic foot ulcer is an open sore or wound that occurs in approximately 15 per cent of patients with diabetes and is commonly located on the bottom of the foot.
Approximately 14 to 24 per cent of patients with diabetes who develop foot ulcers will require an amputation.
Source-CMC
Michael Phelps returns from six-month suspension with victory
Michael Phelps won his first race back from suspension at the Mesa Pro Series meeting in Phoenix.
The 29-year-old - the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals - was banned for six months in October after being arrested for drink-driving.
But on his return the American clocked 52.38 seconds, ahead of rival Ryan Lochte (53.11), in the 100m butterfly.
It was not amongst the top 10 world times this year but Phelps said: "I hope we'll be able to build and build."
Phelps is now bidding to reach a fifth Olympic Games, but will not swim at August's World Championships in Russia as part of an agreement with USA Swimming alongside his ban.
He will instead race at the US national championships in San Antonio, Texas, taking place at the same time as the Worlds.
Source-BBC
Prophecy took out Global United in Softball
The excitement at the church Co ed softball league isn't just on the field but also on the bleachers where friends and family come out in numbers to support.
The Church of God Prophecy went up against global United and dominated that game.
Although short of players, Global United put up a great fight ending the game 13-2 in favor of Prophecy.
If you missed that game, don't miss the next on Monday night 20th April at 6:15 pm in Provo.
Chris Brown Shares First Photo of daughter
Chris Brown posted on Instagram a first photo of him with his daughter Royalty on Thursday, April 16. In the image, he sports matching red hooded jumper with the 10-month-old little girl, who sits in his lap. He captioned the photo, "God has blessed me with my twin #Royalty," as he confirmed that the little brunette is his daughter
In addition to the said photo, Brown uploaded another close-up photo which features Royalty wearing long-sleeve striped shirt, flaunting her curly hair. This confirms reports that the R&B star is a father of a child although he previously declined to give response when being asked about the issue.
A source said that the "No Air" singer wanted to spend more time with his daughter. Brown has reportedly asked his baby mama, model Nia Amey, to move to Los Angeles because it is the only way Brown can see his daughter everyday. "He asked Nia to move to L.A. with their daughter and he'll foot the bill for housing," the source said. "He's not romantically involved with Nia, but we're told he genuinely wants a meaningful relationship with Royalty. He's saying he'd like to see her every day.'
Source-AceShobiz
Argentina launches lawsuit against Falkland oil drillers
Argentina has begun legal proceedings against three British and two US companies for drilling oil near the Falkland Islands.
Daniel Filmus, Argentina's minister for the islands - called the Malvinas locally - announced the case in London.
The companies involved are Falkland Oil and Gas, Premier Oil, Rockhopper, Edison International and Noble Energy.
Mr Filmus told the BBC the companies were "performing illegal acts by entering Argentine territory".
He added: "I want to make it clear for the directors of these companies and for British public opinion that Argentina will use the full force of the law - both national and international law - to prevent these countries from taking the riches which belong to 40 million Argentine citizens.
"Argentina has extradition treaties around the world and we intend to use them."
He added that the area being drilled was "as much ours as the centre of Buenos Aires. Neither the UK nor any other country would allow anyone to enter their territory and take away their riches."
In response, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond accused the Argentines of "outrageous bullying".
He said the islanders had a "perfect right to develop their own economic resources and Argentina needs to stop this kind of behaviour and start acting like a responsible member of the international community".
The Falklands Islands government also said the Argentines had no case.
"We have the right to develop our economy, including the hydrocarbons industry, and we are exercising that right," it said.
"It is worth remembering that it was the government of Argentina who walked away from working with the Falkland Islands on the development of a hydrocarbons industry some years ago.
"Argentine domestic law does not apply to the Falkland Islands and this latest action is clearly another attempt by Argentina to try to block economic growth in the Falkland Islands."
Source-BBC
'US Cannot Be in Isolation' says Obama
In a sweeping defense of his expansion plans for enhanced American trade worldwide, President Barack Obama on Friday said the U.S. cannot be in isolation.
"We cannot stop a global economy at our shores,” he told reporters during a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. “We’ve got to be in there and compete."
His comments were the first since a deal was made between Republicans who head congressional tax committees and a key Democratic senator to advance a proposed controversial trade agreement called the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).
Republican Senator Orrin Hatch and Representative Paul Ryan this week changed the TPA to add provisions intended to protect human rights, make the bill's contents public, and other concessions in order to win the support of Senator Ron Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate finance committee.
"In many respects, this is the most far reaching and progressive trade promotion authority that we’ve seen going through Congress," Obama said on Friday.
President Obama said his trade advance will protect working class Americans but admitted support within his party was divided.
“The politics around trade have always been tough, particularly within the Democratic Party," he said.
President Obama’s comments came at a wide-ranging press conference in which he touched on hot button issues including Russia-Ukraine, Iran nuclear negotiations and the battle against the Islamic State group.
Earlier, Obama and Renzi affirmed the strong ties between their two countries, stressing common goals of stabilizing global security and improving their respective economies.
"This morning, we focused on our shared security," as well as on economics, trade and Libyan unrest, Obama said.
The two countries have some tension over Russia, which Renzi visited in March. Russia is believed to be providing troops for the conflict in eastern Ukraine, a charge Moscow repeatedly has denied.
Source-VOA
St Vincent teacher considering compensation after DPP withdraws Facebook case
The attorney for a teacher against whom two charges were withdrawn on Thursday says the charges were intended to embarrass her client.
Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Colin Williams on Thursday discontinued the charges against Secondary school teacher Jozette Bibby-Bowen who had been arrested on March 2 and charged in connection with posts she allegedly made on the social networking website, Facebook.
The 37-year-old teacher was arrested at Bishop’s College Kingstown, where she teaches information technology, electronic document preparation and management and accounting.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges when she appeared in court.
The DPP did not give any reasons for discontinuing the case, but attorney Kay Bacchus-Browne, one of the lawyers representing Bibby-Bowen, said the state had no reason to arrest or prosecute their client.
“They Nolle prosequi it yesterday. No reason was given, but I suspect the reason is that they simply have no evidence at all, which is what we said from the beginning,” Bacchus-Browne said.
“They have put her through much embarrassment, loss of income. They have had her arrested, which now amounts to false arrest, false imprisonment and now they just withdraw without giving any reason at all,” Bacchus-Browne said.
Bibby-Bowen has been suspended from the classroom and placed on half salary pending the outcome of the case. She was also restricted from leaving St Vincent and the Grenadines without the permission of the Public Service Commission.
Bacchus-Browne said that while the DPP doesn’t have to give a reason for discontinuing the case, “it doesn’t reflect good at all.
“And, obviously, my client is very upset about the whole turn of events,” she said.
Asked if her client would be seeking restitution, Bacchus-Browne said, “we are going to discuss the way forward. We are definitely going to discuss the way forward. I think it is an egregious thing because we said from day one there was no evidence.”
England in control despite Windies resistance
England worked themselves into a winning position despite strong West Indies resistance in their second innings on the fourth day of the first Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua yesterday.
Set an improbable 438 for victory after the tourists declared their second innings at 333 for seven in the afternoon session, the home side reached the close of play at 98 for two with opening batsman Devon Smith leading the way with an unbeaten 59.
While the pitch has held up well over the four days, it is the English who remain favourites to complete their first-ever Test match victory in Antigua, especially with the threat posed by their slow bowlers, even the part-time ones.
It was Joe Root, one of those occasional bowlers, who made an important breakthrough late in the day, drawing Darren Bravo (32) into a loose shot for Chris Jordan to take his second stunning catch of the match at slip.
Kraigg Brathwaite was the early casualty, fending off a lifting delivery in Stuart Broad's first over to Root.
England's rush for runs in the afternoon session resulted in a declaration at 333 for seven, Gary Ballance getting to 122, his fourth Test century.
Playing in just his ninth Test match, the Zimbabwe-born left-hander got good support from Root and Ben Stokes in continuing to dominate a deflated Caribbean bowling attack in the morning, 108 runs coming in the two hours' play for just the loss of Root's wicket.
"It's been a tough winter with the World Cup disappointments and all that so it was good to get runs out here so early," said Ballance at the end of the day.
"It was tough going. You really had to grind it out in these conditions."
Ballance and Root had extended their overnight fourth-wicket partnership to 114 when the right-hander played on to fast-medium bowler Jason Holder for the second time in the match.
His knock of 59 followed a vital contribution of 83 in the first innings.
In conditions tailormade for batting, he was obviously bitterly disappointed at not being able to carry on to three figures.
Jos Buttler dominated the run chase in the second session however. Coming to the crease after Ben Stokes was stumped off the bowling of Sulieman Benn almost immediately after lunch, he smashed his way to an unbeaten 59 and made the task considerably easier for his captain, Alastair Cook, in arriving at a declaration that would give his bowlers a few overs at the West Indies top order before the break.
Reputed as a fluent stroke-maker, Ballance's innings was a determined, watchful effort.
He faced 250 deliveries in just over five hours at the crease, stroking 11 fours and two sixes before the quest for quick runs brought about his demise to the persevering Benn.
None of the home side's bowlers appeared threatening, and with only four specialists chosen in the final 11 -- a tactic designed more to save the match than to win it -- a tiring attack wilted under the withering attack of the England batsmen.
Scoreboard
England 1st Innings: 399 (I Bell 143, J Root 83, B Stokes 79; K Roach 4-94, J Taylor 3-90)
West Indies 1st Innings: 295 (J Blackwood 112 no; J Tredwell 4-47)
England 2nd Innings (overnight 116 for 3)
A Cook c Benn b Taylor 13
J Trott c wkpr Ramdin b Taylor 4
G Ballance c Blackwood b Benn 122
I Bell run out 11
J Root b Holder 59
B Stokes stpd wkpr Ramdin b Benn 35
J Buttler not out 59
C Jordan c Bravo b Roach 13
Extras (b-1, lb-6, w-5, nb-5) 17
Total (7 wickets declared, 86 overs) 333
Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Trott), 2-20 (Cook), 3-52 (Bell), 4-166 (Root), 5-226 (Stokes), 6-281 (Ballance), 7-333 (Jordan)
Did not bat: Stuart Broad, James Tredwell, James Anderson
Bowling: Taylor 14-5-42-2, Roach 14-1-53-1 (2nb), Holder 17-5-63-1 (2nb, 1w), Benn 26-3-115-2 (1nb), Samuels 15-0-53-0
West Indies 2nd Innings
K Brathwaite c Root b Broad 5
D Smith not out 59
D Bravo c Jordan b Root 32
M Samuels 2
Total (2 wickets, 40 overs) 98
Fall of wicket: 1-7 (Brathwaite), 2-90 (Bravo)
To bat: Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jermaine Blackwood, Denesh Ramdin (captain), Jason Holder, Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor, Sulieman Benn.
Bowling: Anderson 7-0-26-0, Broad 9-1-27-1, Tredwell 11-6-14-0, Jordan 4-1-16-0, Stokes 5-0-11-0, Root 4-3-4-1
Toss: West Indies
Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL), Steve Davis (AUS)
TV Umpire: Bruce Oxenford (AUS)
Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
Source-AFP