Trending in Jamaica news today: The woman who stands surety for her son who absconded bail has been released. Her son, Simeon Sutherland, is charged with murder and is on $800,000 bail. He absconded bail last Wednesday after he failed to show up in the Home circuit at the beginning of his trial.
Did the parents conspire with their son to pervert the course of justice?
The parents, who live in Portland, claimed they dropped the accused off at the entrance of the court building and went to park their car. But they noticed that the accused had not entered the court entrance. Instead, he detoured, so they went to speak with him, but he started running and eventually evaded them.
At the time, the lawyer for the accused, Peter Champagnie, thought the accused was in court. Because he had met with the accused and his parents in his office earlier that morning. He told the court that he was confounded at the turn of events. And he did not know why the accused would disappear.
The court ordered the surety taken into custody until arrangements were made for her to pay the bond. And the DPP had also ordered a probe into whether there was any attempt to pervert justice.
Reports are the surety paid the bond that same day, and she was released.
The investigation that the DPP ordered is ongoing. And according to ACP Bailey, there is no information on the whereabouts of the accused thus far.
According to Mr. Champagnie, he does not have anything new to report. Therefore, the status of the accused remains the same. He indicated that he was no longer interested in representing the accused.
Opinion:
The whole situation is bizarre. It does not make sense that the accused would have his mother drop him off at the court entrance and then he absconds. Something is stinking to the high heavens, and the police need to get answers from the parents. Also, did the lawyer lied when he said he met with the accused earlier that morning.