ST VINCENT-CRIME-Judge upholds decision of DPP to discontinue case against Prime Minister
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC- High Court judge Gertel Thom Tuesday upheld the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Colin Williams, to discontinue a charge of rape against Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, saying that she found "no arguable grounds for a review".

Justice Thom told a packed court room that she would only read her conclusion in open court and would have her full written judgement available later on Tuesday.

Lawyers for the 36-year-old police woman had gone to the High Court seeking a review of the decision of the DPP to discontinue the private criminal case of rape and indecent assault laid against the Prime Minister.

Last month, Williams said that the allegations were not likely to stand up in a court of law.

"What I have done is in the best interest of justice," Williams said then, adding "when we look at it dispassionately, the question is could the allegation stand up?"

Williams said this decision was reached following a thorough examination of all the statements and evidence available in the matter.

Gonsalves said that the accusations against him were politically motivated and has vowed to defend "all the conspiracies and plots against me".

Late last month, the judge heard arguments from Emery Robertson and Kay Bacchus Browne representing the police woman, as well as from Barbadian jurist, Sir Richard Cheltenham on behalf of the DPP and Dominican Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General Judith Jones Morgan. Submissions were also made by Queen Counsel Parnel Campbell on behalf of Chief Magistrate Sonia Young.

In her brief ruling, the judge dismissed an application by Astaphan for costs to be awarded to the Attorney General.

Astaphan had argued that the application made by the police officer was a flagrant abuse of the court and that the applicant had refused to cooperate with the DPP, but came to court and hurled accusations of bias.

He said while a hearing to determine leave doesn't warrant cost to be paid, in this case it should be, but the Judge disagreed, ruling that the applicant did not act irresponsibly in submitting her application for leave to review the DPP's decision.

The lawyers representing the police officer have already indicated their intention to appeal the ruling.

"I hold a contrary view (of the Judge's decision) but the judge is the judge, so for now we will have to abide by her ruling," Roberston told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) after the ruling.

"Obviously we will take it further," he added.

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