On December 19th, the Court of Appeal overturned Attorney Oscar Selgado's conviction for abetment to murder. At the time the DPP said that she would immediately appeal to the CCJ. And, tonight, the news is that she has been successful.
The Caribbean Court of Justice today ordered that the DPP has been granted special leave to appeal the Court of Appeal's decision.
The CCJ says it is satisfied that "the issues and points raised on behalf of the (Crown) appear to be arguable and, in the interests of justice, ought to be fully ventilated at a Hearing."
When we interviewed her in December, the DPP explained why she believes it is in the interest of Justice to appeal:
Jules Vasquez
"Why do you feel it is so earnestly in the interest of justice that this appeal ruling be overturned, or your hope is that it will be overturned?"
Cheryl Lynn Vidal, DPP
"I think you've answered your own question. It's in the interest of justice. And that is my function to seek after justice, not just for the immediate victims, but for society as a whole, because society is the ultimate victim of crime. In this particular case, when we did the sentence and hearing and Ms. Bonds gave her victim impact statement and explained what this offense meant to her, how it affected her, how the way she described it, it ruined her life and the life of her family. If I believe that there may have been errors in this judgment that a higher court should look at, then it is my duty to take the matter further."
No date has yet been given for the hearing.
Selgado made modern history when he was found guilty of abetment to commit murder upon Marilyn Barnes back in March of 2024 and was sentenced to 10 years behind bars - the first attorney in decades to face a custodial sentence. Presently, he is a free man and practicing law.
