G.S.U. Can’t Prove Patrick Menzies Knocked Down Officers in 2011
It made the news back in June 2011 when businessman Patrick Menzies was charged with the attempted murder of a GSU officer and a woman who were socializing at a City establishment when a fight broke out. The original claims were that GSU personnel intervened to break up the fight and in the process officers Delwin Casimiro and Natasha Smith were hit by a vehicle, allegedly driven by businessman Patrick Menzies. The trial by judge without jury commenced on Tuesday before Justice Adolph Lucas. Today in court, the witnesses for the prosecution didn’t identify Menzies as the driver of the vehicle that hit Casimiro. In the same breath, James told the court that she was never hit by a vehicle – simply pushed out of the way and that she also didn’t see who was driving the car fingered in the incident. The Prosecutor requested for a March adjournment because one of the witnesses is out of the country, which was objected to by the defence on the grounds that this matter has been hanging over her client’s head for more than five years and was affecting him personally and professionally. Judge Lucas handed down his decision that no adjournment will be granted and that Casimiro failed to identify Menzies as the driver and so the request for adjournment wasn’t granted. With that, the Prosecutor informed Judge Lucas that she will discontinue the case against Menzies and will hand in a written case of nolle prosequi. Judge Lucas later informed Menzies that at this stage while the constitution allows for the crown to withdraw a case, it can also bring back this matter. Simply put, if at any time the D.P.P.’s office feels there is enough evidence against Menzies to prove the charge in a trial, he can be rearrested with attempted murder of Casimiro. Prosecutor for the D.P.P. was Sherigne Rodriguez, while Menzies was initially represented by Attorney Dickie Bradley, who later recused himself, was substituted for by Attorney, Alifah Elrington.