And also appearing in Court last Friday was the attorney for Inspector Chris Martinez. He's the cop who was sentenced to jail for 5 months in jail for wounding. That was in September, and on Friday, his attorney Hubert Elrington was back before the Chief Magistrate asking for a stay of execution on the sentence. That would set him free while he waited for an appeal of his sentence to be heard.
But, the court rejected the request for a stay and his attorney expressed his displeasure because by the time his client's appeal is heard, he will have served his sentence:
Hubert Elrington, Attorney for Inspector Martinez
"If he were to remain in prison until the appeal that he has filed against his sentence be heard the time of his sentence would long expire before his appeal is heard and this would mean that his constitutional right and his legal right to a fair trial within a reasonable time, apparently magistrate believes that there is still time in which the court of appeal might decide to hear the appeal right away and that therefore there is still time to ensure that his constitutional and legal right is reserved."
"Mr. Martinez is therefore left with no option but to go right away to the high court to ask for a stay or that his appeal be heard immediately."
Martinez has served just under two months of his 5 months sentence. Our sources say that currently there are 16 other police officers serving sentenced or on remand.
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