Defence counsel for a man accused of illegally carrying a high-powered assault rifle, along with two other guns, into Cayman has threatened to initiate judicial review proceedings against the Crown for failing to give written reasons why they intend to proceed with the case.
Appearing before the Grand Court on Friday, 28 April, James Stenning told Justice Cheryll Richards that he wrote to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions asking him to reconsider moving the case forward against his client Anton Parygin.
Parygin, 45, arrived from Canada on 28 Jan. when he was arrested by Customs and Border Control officers. He faces six counts of possession of an unlicensed firearm and three counts of importation of an unlicensed firearm.
“On 24 March, I sent a five-page letter to [the DPP] asking him to review the decision to proceed. It was only this morning that I found out by way of verbal confirmation that the case will be going ahead,” explained Stenning. “With no other alternative, we are left with having to send a pre-action letter for judicial review.”
When rebutting Stenning, prosecutor Toyin Salako told the court that the request to review the decision was received and completed, and the director made his ruling.
“The position is that Mr. Stenning wants the Crown not to proceed with this matter because he believes it is not in the public’s best interest for it to go ahead,” said Salako. “However, the Crown takes an opposing view, which is that it is in the best interest of the public for this matter to proceed.”
Richards adjourned the case to give Stenning time to send the pre-action letter to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and for them to respond in writing, outlining the reasons for their decision.
Parygin’s bail has been continued.
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