In August of last year, former Police Superintendent Ewart Itza was cleared of all charges arising from an incident in which he was accused of going on a drinking spree and then physically and verbally assaulting, then imprisoning two Dangriga residents, Lincoln Cardinez and Timotheo Cano.
At the time, Itza was the officer in charge of the Dangriga formation. When the case reached the trial stage, DPP Kirk Anderson made the very rare Magistrate's Court appearance to personally prosecute the case against a cop with whom he'd had a known professional grievance. But Anderson still took the loss when Chief Magistrate Herbert Lord agreed with a no case submission made by Itza's attorney in August of last year. But the DPP wasn't about to go out like that and appealed the judgement to the Supreme Court.
It was heard by the Chief Justice and he issued his judgement on Friday. That judgement orders that Itza should be re-tried on the charges of false imprisonment, use of insulting words, aggravated assault and harm. The use of insulting words charge involves Cano's wife, who Itza allegedly referred to in a derogatory manner. Itza case to the Supreme Court was presented by Hubert Elrington, who the Chief Justice noted failed to deliver any written submissions. DPP Anderson on the other and gave a lengthy submission, citing a number of authorities. No date has been set for the retrial.
