Marcial Mes has "no case to answer" - that's what Dickie Bradley told the Punta Gorda Magistrate's Court yesterday. At the end of January, Mes was accused of knocking down a 15 year old girl and a two-year-old child near Forest Home Village. Onlookers alleged that he was driving under the influence. More than that, police say he refused to provide a specimen to test his alcohol level, and that his vehicle was not licensed.
The prosecution led by Inspector Linden Flowers presented 15 witnesses over 2 full days of hearings. That finished yesterday and when Mes' attorney Dickie Bradley had his turn, he said there's no case to answer. Today, he explained his submission to Keith Swift.
Richard "Dickie" Bradley, Attorney for Marcial Mes
"For lack of a better word the evidence is really shallow and there is no merit to the evidence or what little evidence was presented. The law provides
that rather than continue with the trial a submission can be made, on the basis of the law, the evidence in court from the witnesses is that in fact there is no evidence to substantiate that the Minister in anyway was careless or negligent or that his vehicle was not licensed or that the bus was on the road. There was no evidence whatsoever to substantiate those charges."
Keith Swift,
You're basically saying that the case against Mr. Mes technically is weak, that there is nothing there?
Richard "Dickie" Bradley,
"Well I know that Mr. Mes has been tried and already convicted I think some jurors have already given their decision on the radio. But actually in terms of the facts of the case, there are some huge major problems in the case."
Jules Vasquez,
But Sir surely somebody knocked those people on the road and beyond being legally culpable, even if you say he is not, certainly there has to be some moral responsibility for a official of such high office?
Richard "Dickie" Bradley,
"In terms of the fact that they are two victims of a traffic accident, I think the Minister has visited the home more than once. He has made it very clear that he will assist as best he can with the medical expenses but now that we have seen the totality of the evidence, fifteen witnesses is a lot of witnesses, that legally speaking the Minister cannot be held responsible."
Magistrate Patrick Rosado has adjourned the case until April 25th. That's when he is expected to rule on Bradley's submission.
