On Monday, Police Constable Jesus Marroquin was remanded on a charge of murder. But today, his attorney Dickie Bradley made feverish attempts to get him out on bail for the Christmas. Of course, there's no bail for murder, but Bradley has been pushing the judicial envelope hoping that the Supreme Court will make the very rare exception, and it just might.
A special Saturday sitting has been scheduled for tomorrow at the Supreme Court. Bradley and Crown Counsel Merlene Moody will appear to make presentations. Reports are that Bradley will argue that statements from prosecution witnesses make it clear that it was a case of manslaughter.
Court observers say two things may happen: the court may cite special reasons and grant bail for murder, or Merlene Moody may agree two downgrade the charge to manslaughter. If she does, it would put another perplexing twist in the troubled legacy of departing DPP Kirk Anderson, who leaves office at the end of next week. It is rumored that Moody may replace him, though former senior crown counsel Cheryl Lynn Branker-Taitt has also been interviewed.