By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
THE Crown is ready to proceed with the trial for two men separately charged with sexually assaulting three minors, a Supreme Court judge was told yesterday.
Aaron Johnson, of the Office of the Attorney General, appeared before Senior Justice Stephen Isaacs for a status hearing concerning two sexual assault cases that were fixed for trial on Monday, November 16.
In the first matter, Christian People’s Movement leader Stephen Serrette is accused of sexually assaulting two under age boys in 2012. He has denied the allegations and has retained lawyer Halson Moultrie to represent him.
The 53-year-old remains on $10,000 bail.
In the other matter set for next week, 52-year-old Reginald Sweeting faces a single charge of unlawful sexual intercourse concerning the assault of a 10-year-old girl in January 2010 on a Family Island.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge when formally arraigned in Supreme Court and is also on bail.
Sweeting is represented by lawyer Ian Cargill who informed the judge of an ongoing trial before Justice Roy Jones that could possibly extend to/or beyond the date for this case.
He asked Mr Johnson and the court to consider proceeding with the other case if that were to happen.
Senior Justice Isaacs asked the prosecutor if the Crown was prepared to proceed with either matter and Mr Johnson said “yes.”
He asked the judge which case the court would hear for the week, “bearing in mind that the court’s calendar is booked for the week of November 23.”
“It is up to your office to decide which case to proceed with,” Senior Justice Isaacs said.
Mr Moultrie asked for pre-trial review hearing to be set for Thursday, November 12, to determine if the case could be heard.
The request was granted.
Meanwhile, in other court news, the trial into the murder of businessman Kurt McCartney has been fixed for November 23.
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