Bench warrant issued for mother of female minor who failed to appear in court on Tuesday 19th January

A bench warrant has been issued for the mother of a female minor who failed to appear in court today Tuesday January 19, 2016. The warrant was issued by Justice Errol Thomas at the High Court of Justice today following an application made by State Attorney Fernillia Felix.
 
Information revealed in court indicated that the minor, who was allegedly sexually assaulted, left the island one day before the commencement of the trial.
 
Attorney Felix informed the court that she had been reliably informed that “the virtual complainant had left the jurisdiction yesterday; all witnesses were served … the witnesses never called the prosecution to indicate that they were not coming to court”.
 
Police constable Jerry Maxwell, who is attached to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, informed the court that he had served all witnesses in the matter, including the mother of the complainant, on Wednesday 13th January, to appear in court on Tuesday 19th January.
 
Maxwell told the court that he made inquiries from the Immigration Department about the complainant and was informed that she left the jurisdiction on “LIAT flight number 364 at about 3:03pm”.
 
He also testified that the mother of the complainant is on island, and that he had instructed officers from the Portsmouth Police Station, to remind her to appear in court “for 9 o’clock this morning”.
 
The trial has been adjourned for a date to be fixed later in the January 2016 criminal session.