PM: It's kill or be killed

Prime Minister Perry Christie

As of Thursday, September 4, 2014

PRIME Minister Perry Christie lamented the backlog in the judicial system that allows accused murderers out on bail, many of whom are later killed or commit new crimes while on the street awaiting trial.

Mr Christie said there appears to be a “kill or be killed” mentality in the country and urged the judiciary to take these matters into account.

His comments came a day after 38-year-old Rolando Smith, who was on bail for the murder of Fire ‘n Theft gang leader Julian “Heads” Collie last year, was shot multiple times and killed during a drive-by shooting near a pre-school.

“There is a revolving door, that the justice system who hears me now must take into consideration when it comes down to the balance of the Constitution and the rights of the individual, to know that there is sufficient evidence for all of us to see clearly that when people allegedly kill and are charged, because you are innocent until proven guilty, that because the system fails in not having trials in a sufficient period of time, they are (given) bail and they are killed,” Mr Christie told the House of Assembly.

“So it’s kill or be killed.”

Mr Christie said he met Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett last week and stressed that the government is working to address the problems which cause case backlogs in the judicial system.

“Justice in our country is being challenged,” he said. “So we decided, the government decided, it will now take the unusual position of having 10 criminal courts going at the same time. So we made a decision to repair and to renovate (these courts), and it’s taking place now.

“Just last week I met with the chief justice and let me say now, there is going to be significant movement in the judiciary ... There will be significant movement and all of this is happening at the same time.

“So the point being this, we have now to assign justices to ensure we have nine, 10 courts running concurrently so that the excuse of people not having trials in sufficient time could be put behind them.”

Sickened 9 years, 7 months ago

He should of said Kill and BE Killed.

proudloudandfnm 9 years, 7 months ago

Didn't Perry promise to stop bail for murder accused?

The_Oracle 9 years, 7 months ago

Great, let the courts stack another few thousand on top of the few thousand currently in a prison built for 400. Properly segregate hardened criminals from those awaiting trial or those sentenced for non violent crimes. Listen dude, this ain't rocket science, build a prison for 10,000 Instruct the judges to cut waaaay back on bail for capital crimes, robbery with weapons, crimes against the person. The threat of long term imprisonment with no Week ends out or easy street while awaiting trial will curtail some, which is better than your track record so far.

TalRussell 9 years, 7 months ago

PM if The Pot cake can keep the lights on just for few hours?

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by TalRussell

EasternGate 9 years, 7 months ago

Let's say we are lucky enough to get convictions on 40 killers a year and they are given life sentences. in ten years we will have 400 killers in prison for life. Add another 200 for rape and other serious offences, we will have to build new prisons every 8-10 years! On the other hand if we were executing those killers, we would probably have no more than 20-30 condemned me in Fox Hill at any given time. Yet our leaders continue to hold on to the gown tails of the Law Lords in London.

Clamshell 9 years, 7 months ago

In the U.S. You cannot get bail if you are charged with murder. Period. But the government must offer the accused a trial within a reasonable time frame. The Bahamas must reform in one direction or the other. Some of these killers are on bail for 4-5 years with no trial date set. It's like a license to kill.

tourist1001 9 years, 7 months ago

Since he's dead, who gets the bail $ ?

DEATH PENALTY PEOPLE!

Altalk 9 years, 7 months ago

Trust if they revised the bail act.. By taking away bail for murder accused.. Plenty lawyers will starve to death.. Or will become even worst. "politicians" lol

John 9 years, 7 months ago

The saddest thing about crime in this country, murder especiially, is the public is attacking the victim of crime rather than the criminal. Because we seem to be so helpless in the fight to stop crime and murder, we try to make the victim responsible. Especially those that are killed. You hear things like "o he was gay" or "thas wat he get for keeping bad company", "or he was a drug dealer", or "thas wat he get for messing with sum ones woman", or even "he shouldn't been out that late no how." Some would go so far as to attack members of the victims family, their employer and even their church, just to justify their murder. Then when someone gets locked up and charged with murder, you hear things like, "bey I know they beat them bad," or "you know they pin that on them aye," or "he (the person who got killed) had to do something to cause them to kill him." So we are helpless to stop murder so we justify it and symphatize with the killer no matter how cold blooded he is or how msny other persons he has killed.

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