The repeated absence of Samuel Hinds Jr has again led Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond to defer her ruling in the case where his sister-in-law has accused him of beating her with a cane and threatening her with a gun.
After eight successive adjournments, Hinds Jr was again a no-show at court yesterday when the case was called before Magistrate Chandan-Edmond for ruling.
Hinds Jr, son of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, was charged over the beating of Tenza Lane with a cane and threatening her with a gun. Lane is the sister of Hinds Jr’s reputed wife.
It was alleged that Hinds Jr of Lot 83 Duke Street, Kingston, then 33, had also called Lane a thief, threw her to the ground, stomped her in the face and dragged her by her hair around his house. The man had denied the charge at his arraignment.
Lane was also charged with assaulting the man but she was cleared after a trial.
Hinds Jr’s trial ended on May 23 last after Hinds gave a sworn statement from the witness box. He had been called to lead a defence after the court had ruled that a prima facie case had been made out against him. He called no other witnesses in his defence.
July 4th and seven other dates were set for ruling, but Hinds has ever since been absent from court for one reason or another.
His attorneys would either report that he was out of the jurisdiction or ill.
Defence counsel Peter Hugh, who represents Hinds in association with attorney Latchmie Rahamat would report on his client’s inability to attend court and then request adjournments which were granted.
After July 4, the ruling was adjourned to July 18, August 15, October 13, November 14, December 5 and December 30. The accused was absent on all of those dates.
On December 30 last, Rahamat was granted yesterday’s adjournment. After apologizing for the man’s absence yesterday, she was granted February 6 for ruling; a ninth adjournment.
According to her Hinds was unwell and was not aware that he needed to provide a medical to the court for his absence.
She added too that Hugh has an ongoing trial before the High Court which is expected to end next Friday.
It was in these circumstance that Magistrate Chandan-Edmond granted the February 6 adjournment emphasizing that Hinds is to be present on that date.
