DPP hits back at defence attorneys in Manchester Fraud Trial
Published:Wednesday | July 29, 2020 | 12:00 AM
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn is considering whether to refer to the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council, two defence attorneys in the Manchester fraud trial following what she calls their unfortunate and baseless public comments.
The attorneys were speaking with members of the media after their clients were sentenced to a range of prison terms for their roles in a multi-million dollar scheme at the Manchester Parish Council.
READ: Manchester fraud convicts sentenced to a total of 9 years imprisonment
The lawyers asserted that there was professional misconduct by prosecutors in the matter.
According to attorney Norman Godfrey, a witness in the trial was intimidated by cops in the presence of two prosecutors.
Norman Godfrey, the attorney who represents Sanja Elliott, his wife Tashagaye and Dwayne Sibbles, insists that there are proper grounds for appeal against the conviction and sentencing of his clients because of what he deemed compelling disparities in witness statements. pic.twitter.com/k6tRj2XuKO
— Jamaica Gleaner (@JamaicaGleaner) July 28, 2020
Llewellyn said she is disturbed and shocked by the comments, suggesting that Godfrey was "suffering from sour grapes or disappointment" following the guilty verdict.
"I would ask my learned friend to desist from going down this road. It is unfair, unprofessional and unbecoming," she said.
Llewellyn said she will be consulting with the senior members of her management team to determine whether it would be appropriate to refer the matter to the General Legal Council.
The DPP said at the trial, a witness referred to only as TM was quizzed by Godfrey during cross examination, on whether he had spoken to anybody on the matter.
She said the witness indicated that he had spoken to the police and to prosecutors, who encouraged him to speak the truth.
"As far as the prosecution was concerned, we were at the top of our game in terms of the kind of legal research done," said Llewellyn, defending the credibility of her prosecutors.
The fraud case involved 46 witnesses, 32 counts of indictment and 249 documentary exhibits.
The offences included conspiracy to defraud, possession of criminal property, obtaining money by means of false pretences, breaches of the Corruption Act, and engaging in transactions that involve criminal property.
Three former employees of the Manchester Municipal Corporation and their two co-convicts were on May 15 found guilty for conspiracy to defraud the local government authority.
Between 2013 and 2016, the Manchester Municipal Corporation was fleeced $400 million in public funds, in a conspiracy involving the five convicts.
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