By Saskia Warrick | December 9, 2024
Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty is expected to rule on the proceedings of the Elections Fraud case on December 30.
This decision follows written submissions from both the prosecution and defense attorneys regarding the trial conduct.
The case, which has been delayed due to the prolonged illness of Magistrate Leron Daly, is now being presided over by Acting Chief Magistrate McGusty.
The delay has led to differing proposals on how the trial should proceed.
The prosecution has suggested that summarized proceedings be used, allowing the new magistrate to read the charge, hear pleas, and proceed with the trial as though it were starting afresh, without the need to repeat the pleas.
On the other hand, the defense attorneys argue that the case should restart, with a preliminary inquiry being conducted in the Magistrate’s Court before being transferred to the High Court for a full trial.
The case involves nine defendants—Carol Smith-Joseph, Volda Lawrence, Keith Lowenfield, Roxanne Myers, Clairmont Mingo, Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller—who are facing charges such as misconduct in public office, uttering forged documents, and conspiring to falsify election results during the 2020 general and regional elections.
The Chief Magistrate’s ruling will determine how the case progresses moving forward.