By Ronalda Luke Pascal
Just one day after Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sherma Dalrymple filed a notice of discontinuance in the murder case against a Fond St. Jean man, the charge was reinstated, and the accused, Wang Baron, was rearrested and brought back before the court.
Baron had been on remand in connection with the alleged murder of his uncle, Symbert Baron, which is said to have occurred on May 10, 2020, in Fond St. Jean. The allegation is that Baron murdered his uncle with a spear gun on the aforementioned date.
The accused recently appeared before High Court Judge, Justice Colin Williams, for arraignment; however, the indictment was deemed null and void by His Lordship. The ruling was based on non-compliance with Section 3 of the Criminal Law and Procedure Act, due to procedural deficiencies in the committal process from the Magistrate’s Court.
The matter had been committed to the High Court following a paper committal during the Preliminary Inquiry stage. However, the High Court found that the presiding Magistrate had failed to affix her signature to a required document. As a result, the Judge ruled that the committal—and by extension, the indictment—was invalid. Consequently, the DPP filed a formal notice of discontinuance in the matter.
Following his release, Baron was rearrested and formally recharged with the offence of murder. He appeared before the Roseau Magistrate Court, where the charge was read to him. As the offence is indictable, he was not required to enter a plea.
The matter has been adjourned to August 11, 2025, for the recommencement of the Preliminary Inquiry. At this stage, the court will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to commit the matter for trial before a judge and jury in the High Court.