UK lawyers fly in for trial of McKeeva Bush
The former premier of the Cayman Islands, McKeeva Bush, formally entered not guilty pleas on 11 charges connected to claims he spent just under US$50,000 at hotels and casinos in Florida, the Bahamas and Las Vegas on his government credit card.
Mr. Bush appeared in Grand Court on Monday to deny six counts of misconduct in public office, contrary to Common Law, and five counts of breach of trust by a Member of the Legislative Assembly, under the Anti-Corruption Law.
All 11 charges relate to expenses Mr. Bush is said to have incurred on his government-issued credit card for “personal use” at various hotels and casinos between June 2009 and April 2010.
His trial, which was officially scheduled to begin Monday, is now likely to get under way later this week. The next two days have been set aside for lawyers to resolve case management issues behind closed doors before the trial begins.
Two high-profile Queen’s Counsel have been flown in from the United Kingdom to argue the case before Judge Michael Mettyear, also from the U.K.
Representing Mr. Bush is Geoffrey Cox, QC, an English barrister and a Member of Parliament for the U.K.’s ruling Conservative party. For the Crown, Duncan Penny, QC, will argue the case. He was a prosecutor in the trial of England soccer star John Terry, who was acquitted of racially abusing a fellow player in 2012.
Around 100 potential jurors packed into the Grand Court on Monday in anticipation of the start of the trial, but they were immediately dismissed until at least Wednesday, when jury selection is now expected to begin.
Instead, a brief arraignment hearing took place, and the 11 charges were put to Mr. Bush for the first time.
As the charges were read aloud, Mr. Bush, the current opposition leader, answered not guilty to each one.
The largest offense on the indictment, in monetary value, relates to claims that the former premier used his government credit card to charge $17,030.50 for his “personal use” at the Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island, Bahamas, and at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, over four days in March 2010.
Another charge alleges that Mr. Bush spent $12,289.43 on his government-issued credit card at the Mirage Hotel and Casino, the Bellagio Hotel and The Venetian Las Vegas Casino Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, during a four-day trip in February 2010.
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