A request by the prosecution for an additional adjournment to facilitate a last-minute mental health report for a man accused of killing two people in separate road collisions, has been called “deeply regrettable” by a Grand Court judge.
The defendant, Tarrick Kevin Crawford, faces charges of causing death by dangerous driving in relation to a November 2020 motorcycle collision that claimed the life of Chuck Ebanks and, two months later, in January 2021, he crashed while attempting to flee from police which killed his passenger, Shayne Ewart.
The matters first came before the Grand Court in 2021. Since then, they have been delayed several times as legal counsel on both sides initially sought to get a psychiatric examination of Crawford.
In February 2023, then prosecutor Greg Walcolm presented a psychiatric report which concluded that due to Crawford’s “slow capability of information processing he would find it difficult to concentrate on the proceedings” and was therefore not fit to plea.
Weeks after the first report was presented, a second was commissioned, which also returned similar conclusions. Now 10 months later, the prosecution has asked for a third report.
The second report itself was fraught with delays caused by Crawford, whose mental health issues caused him to consistently forget his appointments – prompting Justice Cheryll Richards to have police escort him to his scheduled meetings.
However, on Friday, 24 Nov., Scott Wainwright, assistant deputy director of public prosecutions, informed the court that another report was needed, which would require an additional delay.
“The director [of public prosecutions] has personally reviewed the file and found that the second report was insufficient as it did not provide any reasons for the conclusions, or evidence to support its findings,” said Wainwright, who proceeded to request an eight-week delay to accommodate a new report.
The request was met with strong criticism from Crawford’s attorney Prathna Bodden, who reminded the court on Friday that the prosecution had previously agreed that no additional reports would be sought and the matter would have been addressed by the courts on Monday, 27 Nov.
“This is becoming an all-too-familiar occurrence where the prosecution’s word cannot be trusted, even if provided in an email,” said Bodden. “When we last appeared, the prosecution said no additional reports would be requested and now days before the matter is slated to be heard, to hear that a new report will be needed is unfair to the defendant and to the families of the victims.”
Bodden added,“ To come and say we need a further review because the matter is serious is pointless. The charges were serious when they first happened, and nothing new has changed.”
The request for a delay prompted Richards to also express her concerns and displeasure over the last-minute delay.
“This is deeply regrettable,” she said. “I agree with the defence, that to suddenly come a few days before it is slated to happen and ask for an adjournment is deeply unfortunate. What it means is that the prosecution did not properly consider it when it should have.”
When asked what degree of certainty the prosecution could provide that the matter would proceed if given a final adjournment, Wainwright told the court that a US-based psychiatrist had been engaged and is awaiting approval from the courts.
Richards adjourned the matter to February 2024. Crawford’s bail was continued under the same strict conditions, including that he is not to drive any motor vehicle or motorcycle.
Related Videos
