Justice confirms Wade’s conviction; invites appeal

Justice Troadio Gonzalez has upheld the controversial verdict of convicted police officer Cyril Wade. This afternoon after submissions were made by defence attorney Hubert Elrington and prosecutor Cheryl Lyn Branker-Taitt, Justice Gonzalez returned from his chambers and told the court that while he is troubled by the matter, his hands are tied and the guilty verdict will have to stand. Speaking on his own behalf, Wade told the Justice that he has to “accept the verdict of the jurors” and asked for leniency saying that he never meant to “cause any harm or injury to anyone.” Wade is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday. On May eleventh, the police officer was found guilty of dangerous harm for the September 2004 beating of prisoner Emil Pinelo. But the following day, a juror revealed to the court that the aggravated assault verdict was not unanimous and that the jury had really been hung with four of the nine wanting to convict Wade of the lesser charge of wounding. If he so chooses, Wade can appeal his conviction to the Court of Appeal and Justice Gonzalez has ordered that the notes of the case be expedited in readiness for the next sitting.