Still no bail for Orlando Vera; attorney wants judge off case

Orlando Vera

Forensic examiner Orlando Vera was back in court today as he continues to seek bail ahead of an appeal of his June first conviction for abetment to pervert the course of justice. Supreme Court Justice Herbert Lord has been hearing the case and made several orders to expedite the hearing of the appeal, but it has been slow going.  Vera’s attorney, Anthony Sylvestre, today shocked the court by submitting that Justice Lord should recuse himself from the case after complaining that the new order continues to delay his right to a fair hearing since the Crown has failed to comply with the previous orders. It also means that Vera remains behind bars. Despite Director of Public Prosecution Cheryl-Lynn Vidal contending that there are no reasonable grounds for the request under law, Justice Lord set aside two of his orders on the appeal and will now take up arguments next Friday, June twenty-first, as to why he should step down. Vera was sentenced to two years in prison by Chief Magistrate Ann-Marie Smith. Belmopan businessman Michael Modiri charged that Vera offered to tamper with the evidence in a firearm case against Modiri. Vera is seeking both bail and a stay of execution on his conviction and sentence.