Magistrate Michael Laudat has granted bail to Police Constable Ransom Frederick who is charged with “attempted murder.”
According to documents from the court, on July 9, 2022, River Street in Roseau, did attempt to murder Glennie Linus Bruney. Frederick is represented by lawyers Wayne Norde and Gina Abraham Thomas.
Bail application
In his bail application, defense counsel Wayne Norde told the court that if bail is granted, his client has a “suitable surety, will surrender to custody, will not interfere with witnesses, and will not commit any offenses while on bail.”
He begged the court to “not deny him bail for his own protection” explaining to the court that Constable Frederick before the incident has been attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) a department deemed as “high risk dealing with serious crimes” and during his five (5) years, has dealt with lots of persons some of whom are awaiting trial at the Stock Farm Prison.
“Hence, for his own protection it will not be in the interest of justice not to grant him bail, in fact, there are pending matters of threats on his life and some of the persons are at the prison,” Norde said. He told the court, that this touches on “public interest” and presently there are various police officers on bail.
He was told by the Magistrate, that people must be able to walk the streets of Dominica and go out and feel safe. To this, he responded by saying that this situation is different from other “gun-related matters” and that the firearm used was “not an unlicensed one but was a government-issued firearm.”
“He is a trained Officer in relation to a firearm, he did not flee the crime scene after the incident. He remained there and immediately surrendered the firearm, so this matter should not be connected like the others as gun violence or revenge and the outcry of unlicensed firearm and ammunition,” Norde stated.
In response, the State attorney attached to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Daina Matthew told that court her office appreciates the posture of the court and that this offense of “attempted murder” should be interpreted just as seriously under the Bail Act as the offense of murder.
Public Interest
On the issue of public interest, she stated that as noted by defense counsel that the gun used was not “unlicensed” it was used by “an Officer of the court who is supposed to protect the public from harm and not caused harm.” She stated that, nonetheless, the prosecution appreciates that this accused is a Police Officer and his safety at the prison will very well be compromised especially considering where he has been attached.
The ruling of the Court
Magistrate Laudat stated that for every bail application that comes before him whether you are a police officer or not, he deals with it or recuses himself. He reminded the Officer that he was charged with a serious offense and his bail under the Bail Act was “discretionary.”
“This court has taken a deem view of the wanton use of firearms to commit crimes license or unlicensed in the State,” he said. In considering bail, he stated that the court must among other things look at the nature and seriousness of the offense, the character of the individual, and the penalty attached, and from all indications, he is “a first-time offender.”
He then ruled that it was the court’s view, that it was not in the public’s interest to deny him bail and to remand him at the Stock Farm Prison where his life is going to be at risk.
Order of the Court
Bail is set at fifty thousand dollars with Elisha Laurent as surety. The accused is not to interfere with any witnesses, must surrender all his travel documents to the court, report to the jurisdiction of the court on October 20, 2022, live an honest and industrious life while on bail, and must not change his address without the expressed permission of the court.