Kirkland Henry and Larry Prinston Ricketts, the two Jamaican nationals accused of murdering women’s rights activist Estella Scott-Roberts, made a brief court appearance Wednesday, amid unprecedented court security.
Police cordoned off the rear entrance to the court house ahead of the two men’s arrival at the complex and a heightened police presence was on hand when the two men were produced to the dock in Courtroom Two just after 10am.
Henry was first to be brought up from cells below the courthouse, dressed in a white T-shirt and jeans. Ricketts appeared moments later, wearing a brown T-shirt and jeans.
Neither of the defendants addressed the court and the packed public gallery saw little sign of emotion from either man during the mention hearing.
Ricketts was represented by Defence Attorney John Furniss, while Henry was represented by Defence Attorney Ben Tonner.
Crown Counsel Kirsty-Ann Gunn told Chief Magistrate Margaret Ramsay-Hale that preliminary disclosures have been made between the Crown and defence teams and that a long-form Preliminary Inquiry in the case has been set down for the 17th and 18th of December.
If either of the men’s Defence Attorney’s decides that a short form PI would be more appropriate, they have given a commitment to advise the Crown of that by 8 December, Ms Gunn said.
The Chief Magistrate agreed that disclosure of files for the PI should be done by 4 December.
Acknowledging the large number of community members that had turned up for the appearance, the Chief Magistrate briefly adjourned the court after the defendants’ appearance to allow those that had no other business at the court to leave.
If the Magistrate decides after the PI there is sufficient evidence for the men to proceed to trial, it is expected they would appear in Grand Court sometime during its next sitting, which begins on Wednesday, 7 January.
Henry is facing one charge each of murder, rape, robbery and abduction of a person, while Ricketts is charged with murder, robbery and abduction of a person.
Both men have been granted legal aid, having satisfied the court that they cannot afford to pay for attorneys.
The tight security at the court house Wednesday comes after the defendants second court appearance on 6 November drew a large crowd of hecklers to the back of the court house as the men were driven away to Northward Prison, where they are being held on remand.
‘We anticipated and prepared for a crowd following events from the previous appearance of the defendants and put in place measures to ensure safety all round,’ explained Royal Cayman Islands Police Spokesperson Deborah Denis after the hearing.
Mrs. Scott-Roberts, 33, was last seen on Friday night, 10 October, when she left a West Bay Road restaurant where friends had gathered to celebrate her birthday.
Her burnt vehicle was found on a dyke road in West Bay the next day. A few days later, police said there was little doubt that the body inside the vehicle was that of Mrs. Scott-Roberts.
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