Nassau, Bahamas: At 9.55pm the room was full.
Around 9.40pm, journalists and attorneys stationed outside the court waiting for the verdict were simultaneously inundated with calls that from editors and colleagues that an announcement was made during the Progressive Liberal Party convention that Pleasant Bridgewater was “free at last”. Reports came in that people were jubilant celebration crying tears of joy, giving thanks to God and going off in freedom songs. At that time however, no word was handed down to journalists, attorneys or anyone else for that matter. The courtroom door was finally opened at around 9.50pm and the public gallery was packed to capacity with spectators, Bridgewater family members, Travolta associates and other well known political figures including former Fred Mitchell.
Jury came in at 10:33pm with dinners in hand after deliberating for 8 hours. The foreman announced that the jury needs more time. He added that it is likely they will reach a verdict. Justice Anita Allen said that she would make another assessment.
Justice Anita Allen said, We are very concerned in the interest of justice that there has been a communication from the jury room to anyone. I am not going to ask but we are very concerned. About two hours ago there was an announcement at a particular political party.
I have decided that I am very reluctant to discharge you in the interest of justice having heard the views of counsel we are concerned and it was an announcement made by a senior person. It leaves the impression that there may have been a communication in the jury room. I am going to discharge you from returning your verdict. We have to be extremely mindful that the appearance is more important that we are and justice has to be seen.
I am Ordering a retrial. That is my decision. as you know justice has to be transparent and I;ve ordered a retrial.
During closing arguments on Tuesday, defense council Ducille said, “Obie Wilchcombe is the initiator in this whole thing.”
We will be seeing a new Prosecutor for the retrial, who might be Braithwaite. He can’t handle Ducille at all. This is the time the PM must be careful in appointing an AG, who is experience and smarter than the existing cadre in the AG office. Delaney can’t handle this kind of mess. Trust Me!
SERIOUS QUESTION BOY, BUT COULD HE BE CHARGED WITH SOMETHING?
@LIZARD
if christie had balls, but how do you know he was not in on this little debacle….The crowd sure seemed scripted
@LIZARD
Lizard let me ask you this “WHO IS LEADER OF THE PLP?”
Cuz the person who is current and ga win is a SECOND CHANCE FOOL!
Now watch how the most of the Ignorant fools ga Praise Picewell!
HUBERT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND CORRECT EM’ !!!!!!!!!
DO YOU THINK THAT THE LEADER OF THE PARTY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKES AN EXAMPLE OF PF, CAUSE THERE HAS BEEN TOO MUCH BAD PUBLICITY FROM THE PLP, HE NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH PUBLICLY. OR I HOPE THE JUDGE SLAP A CHARGE OR SOMETHING ON HIM, CASUE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT WHEN A TRIAL IS ON THAT YOU DON’T TALK ABOUT IT ESPECIALLY IN THE PUBLIC….NOW DIS WAT YOU CALL A DUMB DICS JOCKEY
picewell forbes should resign immediately!!! he is a sham and shame!!! how ignorant can a person be??? now he has shamed this country again…boy i tell ya…dis country reallygoin to hell in a basket!!!
NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!! LET THE DAMN PLP PAY FOR DIS NEXT TRIAL…….. DUCILE is a brilliant lawyer….. Bridgewater De-fence TEAM DONE HAVE AN IDEA what the witness and evidence is……. THEREFORE DUCILE will have sufficient TIME TO try prove or Manipulate the evidence and witness in favor of his CLIENT.
THATS TAINTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SEND HER A$$ to JAIL….. LOCK HER UP!
We keep on giving them ammunition to work with. Or should I say certain people who belong to a particular political organization give it to them. Then want complain when they say the country corrupt.
SHAME SHAME SHAME
@ Examiner
Do they do it in America? When will people here wake up and realize that The Bahamas is VERY visible around the world now with internet and TV broadcast instantaneously and this is NOT good PUBLICITY for our beloved Bahama Land – we rely on the US for 90% of everything… our source of income… food… etc etc etc JUSTICE has to be seen to be done even if it’s our “friends” who are on trial – if The Bahamas wants to be taken seriously and wants to prosper in the International community…..
Now hold on JR, BP aint lie about NPI. There was a protest, until Wayne Munro and Damian Gomez came on the scene and made representation to the Rules and Credentials Committee. Paul Adderley allowed them to vote, his position was why should the PLP be excluding people from participating. So BP aint lie about that one! LOL!
@JR
They could keep that apology, because we all know this was intended. They only adding insults to injuries.
@LIZARD
Yeah Lizard you are right, I don’t believe Picewell had the brains to think this up on his own.
Why are you burying the PLP’s apology in the comments section? Are you going to later write that nobody said anything? Also, what a liar you are. I have been reliably informed that your story about the National Progressive Institute not being allowed to vote is an absolute lie. Boy BP, a new slogan is emerging for you. If Perry was “Late Again” then Bahamas Press must be “Lie Again.”
Really don’t know who all was behind it, but this country is so unjust. All I know if it was me trying to extort those people, this morning I was going to be waking up in jail.
KIM IN ALL HONESTY I REALLY DON’T THINK THAT THERE WAS ANYONE ON THE JURY THAT DID THIS, BUT IT WAS AN ATEMPT TO CAUSE A MIS-TRIAL AND IT DID JUST THAT PF DOESN’T HAVE THE BRAINS TO DO THIS ON HIS OWN THIS WAS A PLANNED THING AS A PUPPET WHEN YOUR STINGS GETS PULLED YOU DO AS YOU ARE TOLD
@Altec
Now I see why Nancy Grace probably think we are so third world. That’s the way we act with our corrupt judicial system and these wicked politicians.
You all believe Picewell was not misinformed aye? This is something that I perceive that was planned well in advance. If you don’t watch out for some of these wicked politicians, they would cost you to lose site of all your good values and corrupt your thinking abilities. I could see Picewell making them people to sing and rejoice, if Pleasant was going to court for doing something good or something she had no involvement with, but the woman was charged with extortion where there were significant amount of evidence. If this was a situation like Nelson Mandela when he was freed from jail, because he was lock up for opposing the government and looking out for his people, then I could see them celebrating. They were trying to influence the jury decision the moment Mother Pratt started hanging around the court and supporting Pleasant. These people in government are a bunch of fake and fraud and I done see them from a mile away. That is why the country is the way it is and nobody respects anyone. They must be had a bunch of old diehard PLPs on that jury, because I can’t see no young reasonable thinking group of people can’t reach a verdict in this case, when it is so easy to see and to understand that these people are extortionists.
PLP APOLOGISES
Last evening in the course of an address at our National General Convention, it was announced that former Senator Pleasant Bridgewater had been acquitted. The announcement was incorrect. We give an unqualified apology. This was not intended to interfere with the administration of justice.
— end —
@Altec
This happens in America everyday.
@therealtruth
Hubert and Allyson caused it.
Even in opposition they are still causing irreparable damage. Dancing and celebrating on national t.v, what will they think of next!
In this economy, I want the Bahamas to have international publicity
BUT DEFINITELY NOT LIKE THIS!
The Huffington Post is calling the entire process a “farce.”
I have already seen CNN, MSNBC and the BBC report this story on their newscast this morning. They are suggesting that a juror was communicating with someone on the outside.
Everything about our justice system is a joke. 2009 has been the year this country is viewed by the rest of the world as a banana republic. Internationally we made the news headlines for all the wrong reasons.
I AGREE 300%
@Altec
Well he should not have speaking last night anyway. Out of all the MP’s why was the dumbest one chosen to speak?? OH, I know why he is Obie’s surrogate and elections are today! Obie and Picewell need to resign post haste!!
Picewell was wrong for doing what he did without checking his facts. The person who told him that either lied to him or was lied to himself. But be that as it may, he never should have announced it without confirmation.
This is what you get when you allow a mindless fool to rise to his highest level of ineptitude. Picewell was a stale DJ who couldn’t even read the Community Announcements properly and would never be assigned a real news story. Perry Christie, in his infinite wisdom decided that he should be in Parliament. As they say the rest is history. Stay tuned…there’s more to come!!!!
@LIZARD
No No hes not STUPID hes Brilliant! I do recall that there were a few PLP who supported Pleasant Bridgewater and one of them were Picewell Forbes…… NOW BAHAMIANS lets be real you think Im going on stage to give you GOSSIP? Im going to make sure its FACTS before I make a any statement. I honestly believe this was PLANNED so that Pleasent could find more information to help her case.
But if you do consider this whenever a jury takes plenty hours for a verdict that means they are UNSURE therefore leaning to a Mistrial anyway ORRRRRRRR The jury wanted to get free dinner’s before they give the verdict.
But Picewell should be investigated and punished for his actions!
TRUE. HE WOULD DONE BEEN IN JAIL BY NOW.
I hope this wasn’t to help Obie in the voting booth tomorrow because the Deputy Leader race is a foregone conclusion – lol!
I wander how Pleasent let that white man charm her anyway, til she couldn’t realize she was being set up.
ALL MY HARD EARN MONEY WHAT I HAD TO PAY THE GOVERNMENT IN TAXES DA BOY CAUSE IT GO DOWN DA DRAIN JUST LIKE DAT, BOY I WANT A REFUND HOW STUPID COULD HE BE
@LIZARD
Girl, I just waiting.
Taurino better be glad he got Pleasent mixed up in this, because if he did this with another jungalist lawyer he would have been going straight to jail.
YES you dont know they get free food and hotel services?…. They are not allowed to have a cell phone frum THE START OF THE COURT CASE TO THE FINISH…….. So you mean to tell me Lizard… Me and you is a juror…. I broke or cheap…. Im going to play FORGETFUL TIL MY BELLY FULL… Thats what they did Lol… Got their last free lunch and dinners.
I Feel Um um THE PLP should pay for the next COURT CASE…. all this money when things tuff…… LET PICEWELL PAY FOR THIS NEXT TRIAL! tHE WHOLE CASE IS NOW TAMPERED THANKS TO THE p-L-P!
KIM YOU KNOW NANCY GRACE GA HAVE US FA CHALK NOW RIGHT
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FA REAL, WORLD WIDE DISGRACE
@Bahamasyouth
Jokes!!!!
lIZARD YOU HAVE SOME DAMN SENSE…… YES IT WAS PLANNED!… PEOPLE SHOULD BE PUNISHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
justicE WAS NOT SERVED!
i DONT BLAME THE DAMN JUROR’S THEY KNOW SHE DAMN GUILTY BUT THEY WANTED THEIR DINNERS BEFORE THEY LEFT!
Boy, I see why this country can’t be no better. People is condone too much foolishness.
Agree 100%.
I DON’T BELEIVE THAT IT WAS AN ACCIDENT HE MISSPOKE IT WAS DESIGNED TO TO JUST THAT CAUSE A MISTRIAL THEY ARE ALL LAYWERS SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO THIS A DEFINATE WASTE OF COURT TIME AND EXPENSE AND TOTHINK THIS ASE WAS FAST TRACKED, IT LOST NOW BURIED DEEEEEP IN THE SYSTEM
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