Topic: Grand Court
Grand Court: Cayman fund directors did not scheme to violate sanctions
The Grand Court has dismissed allegations that several Cayman-registered funds and their directors were a part of a scheme to violate international sanctions placed on Libya. The case stems from former Libya dictator Muammar Gaddafi being overthrown and killed by Western-backed rebels in that country in 2011.
Another Cuban migrant challenges asylum denial by Appeals Tribunal
A Cuban migrant is challenging the Immigration Appeals Tribunal’s decision last month to deny him asylum, arguing that he did not receive a fair hearing of his application.
Government hiring dispute to be settled in combined hearing
The Grand Court will hear two judicial review applications in an ongoing dispute between the Ministry of Education and the Civil Service Appeals Commission, involving a situation where a non-Caymanian was hired to be the ministry’s human resources director over a Caymanian who was allegedly similarly qualified.
Dart heads to court over Britannia beach and golf rights
The Dart group is seeking to free itself from restrictive agreements guaranteeing home owners in the luxury Britannia Estates development the right to use golf, tennis and beach facilities associated with its properties.
Lawyers weigh in on dearth of Legal Aid attorneys
The relative paucity of criminal defense attorneys in Cayman who will accept Legal Aid cases may be due to a host of structural factors unique to the country’s legal landscape.
Grand Court opens with pomp and ceremony
The formal opening of Grand Court for 2019 took place on Wednesday morning, with Chief Justice Anthony Smellie and other speakers addressing the challenges and opportunities involved in the administration of justice in the Cayman Islands.
Chief Justice presents optimistic opening address
Chief Justice Anthony Smellie sounded an optimistic note in his ceremonial address opening the Grand Court on Wednesday, when he acknowledged a serious backlog in criminal cases but also saw an avenue for alleviation in the prospect of a freshly renovated Scotiabank building.
Abraaj founder ordered to pay court costs
The Grand Court has ordered Abraaj Holdings founder Arif Naqvi to pay his own costs for a recent hearing in Cayman regarding his troubled company’s ongoing attempts to restructure.
Customs agent guilty in cocaine case
A Grand Court jury on Friday unanimously convicted customs officer David Karl Lobo on one of two counts of being involved in smuggling cocaine into the Cayman Islands.
Alleged conspirator testifies in cocaine case
An alleged conspirator in a plan to bring cocaine into the Cayman Islands gave evidence this week in the Grand Court trial of David Karl Lobo, 33, a Customs officer charged with conspiracy to import cocaine.
3 years for stealing first governor’s war medals
Mitchum Kenjo Wood was sentenced to three years in prison Wednesday on a Grand Court burglary charge stemming from an incident in which the war medals of Cayman’s first governor, Athelstan Charles Long, were stolen in September last year.
Customs officer’s cocaine importation trial begins
The Grand Court trial of David Karl Lobo, a Customs officer charged with conspiracy to import cocaine, began on Monday morning.
Elderly taxi driver pleads guilty to death by careless driving
Local taxi van driver Roy Clivey Tamasa pleaded guilty in Grand Court Friday to causing death by careless driving in relation to the accident that killed Dr. Vary Anette Jones-Leslie in July of last year.
Prosecution chief appointed as judge
Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryll Richards, QC, is stepping down from her role to become a Grand Court judge.
Three acting judges appointed to Grand Court
Governor Martyn Roper on Tuesday announced the appointment of three new acting judges to the Grand Court panel – Judge Aileen Downey, Simon Russell Flint, QC, and Hugh Southey, QC.
Man sentenced in death of motorcyclist
Warren Samuel Hogarth, who had previously pleaded guilty in the death of motorcyclist Denvil Roy Mitchell, was sentenced to two years and five months in Grand Court on Tuesday.
Alleged NRA impersonators could face more charges
Three men who were arrested last month appeared in Grand Court on Friday for allegedly presenting themselves as workers with the National Roads Authority and offering to paint the parking lot of a business premises on North Church Street.
C3 plans challenge to Immigration Department raid, seizure of property
The telecommunications company C3 has filed for judicial review against an Immigration Department decision to execute a search warrant on its premises and seize some of the company’s property, including a laptop computer.
Charges withdrawn against man in ‘romantic triangle’
A man allegedly involved in “some sort of romantic triangle” had all charges against him withdrawn when he appeared in Grand Court on Friday.
Grand Court will review government hiring dispute
The Grand Court will review a dispute between the Ministry of Education and the Civil Service Appeals Commission involving a situation where a non-Caymanian was hired to be the ministry’s human resources director over a Caymanian who says she was similarly qualified.
Jury notice
All Grand Court Jurors who are in the Oct. 3 to Dec. 28 session are advised that the report date of Monday, Oct. 8, has been changed.
Shedden Road wounding charge sent to Grand Court
A charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm was sent to Grand Court on Tuesday after defendant Gregorio Camacho Hernandez appeared before Magistrate Valdis Foldats.
Deception charges go to Grand Court
Charges against a woman accused of obtaining more than $37,000 from the Department of Child and Family Service by deception were sent to the Grand Court after a preliminary inquiry last week.
Jury notice
All Grand Court jurors who are in the July 4-Oct. 2 session are advised that the report date of Monday, Sept. 10, has been changed. They are now required to report on Monday, Sept. 17 at 9:45 a.m.
Gunman to claim ‘diminished responsibility’ in West Bay killing
A West Bay man accused of fatally shooting father-of-two Mark “Hubba” Seymour in the doorway of a crowded restaurant plans to claim he was suffering from “diminished responsibility” at the time of the killing, a jury heard Tuesday.
90% of financial court cases available for public inspection
Earlier this month, the financial services site OffshoreAlert published an article reporting that the documents for an increasing number of cases at the Grand Court’s financial services division are not being made public.
Cayman Airways HQ wounding case in court
Tyrec Christopher Johnson, 17, appeared in Summary Court on Tuesday when the charge against him, wounding with intent, was transmitted to the Grand Court.
Jury notice
Grand Court jurors in the July 4-Oct. 2 session are advised that the report date of Aug. 14 has been changed. Jurors should now report for duty on Aug. 15 at 9:45 a.m.
Date set for arson trial
Rupert Junior Spence appeared in Grand Court on Friday, when he pleaded not guilty to two counts of arson and one count of attempted arson relating to an incident in George Town last year.
Report: More court records being kept secret
The Grand Court’s financial services division is keeping an increasing number of court records from the public, according to a report published this week by OffshoreAlert, a financial services website that publishes Cayman- and other offshore-related court records.
Judge gives reasons for anonymizing documents
Grand Court Justice Ian Kawaley last week released his reasons for allowing the beneficiaries of a trust involved in a legal matter to remain confidential.
Judge stops trial, brothers not guilty
A judge directed a jury to return not-guilty verdicts on two brothers charged with assaulting police after finding that police officers’ testimonies in the case were contradictory and that one of the defendants had not been arrested.
Court hears guns found under ‘shoe’ tree
Trial began in Grand Court this week for two men charged with possession of firearms. Gerald Jaleel Bush and Rico Roy Walton are accused of being in possession of a Colt .45 loaded with six rounds of ammunition and a Trabzon 9mm handgun.
Man, 83, in court for attempted murder
William Lindberg Glasgow, 83, made his first appearance in Grand Court on Friday on a charge of attempted murder.
New date set for Captain’s Bakery incident
A teenaged male made his first appearance in Grand Court on Friday charged with offenses arising from an incident Tuesday night, July 10, at Captain’s Bakery and Grill on West Bay Road.
Three plead not guilty to firearm charges
Three Jamaican nationals charged with possession of unlicensed firearms pleaded not guilty in Grand Court on Friday and had their trial set to start on Sept. 24.
Jury notice
The latest Grand Court jurors report date has changed.
Realtor was ‘terrible businessman,’ court hears
Former real estate broker Antonio Paolini was “a terrible businessman” who used money from two clients to pay business expenses and he never intended to benefit personally, a Grand Court judge was told on Wednesday.
83-year-old husband charged with attempted murder
An 83-year-old man charged with attempting to cause the death of his wife appeared in Summary Court on Monday morning, when the charge was transmitted to Grand Court.
Aggravated burglary goes to Grand Court
Presley Charles Whittaker, 35, was charged with entering a premises on Old Robin Road in North Side with intent to steal and, at the time of entering, had in his possession an offensive weapon – namely, a machete.
Attempted murder trial set after stabbing
Lyle Sampson Alexander Peart, 18, appeared in Grand Court on Friday, when he pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Arson charged after West Bay house fire
Tommy Orlando Ebanks, 32, appeared in Summary Court on Thursday charged with arson after a house fire in West Bay on Tuesday, July 3. Magistrate Philippa McFarlane told the defendant that arson is a charge that can be heard only in the Grand Court and she transmitted the matter there.
Business owner not guilty of theft from client
Paulette Anglin-Lewis was found not guilty of theft by a Grand Court jury on Wednesday, after trial that began last week. Ms. Anglin-Lewis, the sole director of Anglin-Lewis and Associates, had been charged with two counts of theft from a client of her immigration services business.
Couple files legal challenge to gay marriage ban
A same-sex couple has filed a legal challenge to the Cayman Islands ban on gay marriage.
Kuwaiti public entity aims to liquidate Cayman-registered firm
The Cayman-registered Abraaj Holdings is facing two petitions in Grand Court, one to have the court to restructure its debt and the other to liquidate the company.
Bail denied in robbery case
Bail was denied on Friday, June 8, for 19-year-old Azeem Delano Burton, who pleaded guilty in Grand Court to a charge of robbery, but denied stealing all of the items alleged.
Jury notice
All current Grand Court jurors who are in the April 4 to July 3 session are advised that the report date of Monday, May 28, has been changed to Wednesday, May 30, at 9:45 a.m.
Man admits importing unlicensed air pistol
Two people accused of importing an air pistol in 2017 appeared in Grand Court Friday, when one pleaded guilty and the other had a tentative trial date set.
Garfield Wong trial adjourned again
Senior immigration officer Garfield (Gary) Wong had his trial adjourned again this week because the Crown counsel prosecuting his case had a matter in Grand Court.
Jury notice
All Grand Court Jurors in the April 4 to July 4 session are advised that their report date has been changed. They should now report for duty on Monday, May 28, at 9:45 a.m.
Jury notice
All Grand Court jurors who are in the April 4 – July 3 session are advised that their report date has been changed.
Accounting firms win legal dispute over government fees
The Grand Court has struck down attempts by government to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra business licensing fees from the territory’s major accounting firms, ruling that such efforts were unlawful.
Immigration fraud trial set for January
A trial expected to last two months has been set to start on Jan. 14, 2019, for six immigration personnel and five other defendants on charges relating to the provision of assistance to pass a required English Language Test, and arrangement of payment of a reward for providing such assistance.
American man on firearms charges fails to attend court
David Dean Meadors, charged last year with possessing unlicensed firearms in Cayman Brac, failed to attend Grand Court on Wednesday. Justice Marlene Carter issued a warrant for his arrest.
Man admits firearm, cocaine charges
Javier Howell, 26, pleaded guilty on Friday to possession of an unlicensed firearm, six rounds of ammunition and 123 grams of cocaine with intent to supply.
RCIPS officers’ discrimination claims rejected
A Cayman Islands Grand Court judge has rejected claims in a 2016 lawsuit that the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service employed discriminatory practices in deciding which senior officers should be retired and when those retirements should occur.
Immigration fraud charges adjourned
Six public officers and six civilians appeared in Grand Court on Friday, facing charges that relate to an English-language proficiency requirement for foreign workers.
Gun in ganja boat case heads to Grand Court
Three men charged with importing ganja and firearms to Cayman will have their cases heard in the Grand Court next month.
Courts: Mangatal to stay on as judge
Cayman Islands Chief Justice Anthony Smellie indicated Tuesday that Justice Ingrid Mangatal would remain in her position as a Grand Court judge following her guilty plea in March to drunk driving and careless driving.
Appeal court agrees with 14-year sentence
Paul Anthony Hume Ebanks did not succeed in getting his convictions or 14-year sentence overturned when he appeared before the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal on Thursday.
Woman pleads guilty to bigamy
Kenia Alonzo Solis, 29, pleaded guilty to a charge of bigamy when she appeared in Grand Court on Friday.
Former UCCI lecturer pleads guilty to pornography charges
A former University College of the Cayman Islands lecturer pleaded guilty in Grand Court on Friday to 12 charges of possession of child pornography.
Woman’s Bigamy charge heads to Grand Court
Kenia Alonzo Solis, 29, appeared in Summary Court on Tuesday on a charge of bigamy. Magistrate Valdis Foldats outlined the charge to her.
Trial date set for Bodden Town robbery, firearm
Odain Lloyd Ebanks, 23, pleaded not guilty in Grand Court on Friday to five charges arising from a robbery in Bodden Town earlier this month followed by an incident involving police in Prospect.
Dog owner wins appeal against destruction
Dog owner Duke Perrigoffe Merren is getting his dogs back from the Agriculture Department pound after Justice Stephen Hellman set aside an order for the animals’ destruction, which was made after two neighbors were bitten by one of Mr. Merren’s dogs.
Video link failure leads to not guilty verdict
Failing technology led to a verdict of not guilty in Grand Court on Monday when a video link between Cayman and Canada could not be re-established.
Premier seeks commission to deal with ‘fair employment’
An independently appointed commission will be created to field complaints made by Caymanian job-seekers who feel they have been unfairly discriminated against during the hiring process, Premier Alden McLaughlin said last week.
Jury notice
All Grand Court jurors in the January 2018 session are advised that their report date has been changed. They are now to report for jury duty on Monday, March 26, at 9:45 a.m.
Alcohol and anxiety meds lead to driving ban for judge
A Grand Court judge “unconsciously” drove for several miles in her night clothes before crashing her car into a concrete barrier, a court heard.
Three defendants charged in June 17 crime spree
A George Town resident who police identified last week as a “person of interest” in a Red Bay homicide will be held in custody until a March 23 Grand Court hearing on charges that he and two other young men raided a Prospect home, taking valuables and threatening the home’s inhabitants.
Judge charged with DUI ‘on leave’ next week
Grand Court Judge Ingrid Mangatal, who is facing charges of driving under the influence and careless driving, will be on leave “during the latter part of next week,” according to a statement from Cayman Islands Chief Justice Anthony Smellie.
Grand Court judge charged with DUI
A Cayman Islands Grand Court judge was charged Friday with careless driving and driving under the influence following a one-vehicle accident last September.
