Danny Mason Retrial Set for February as New Defense Team Requests More Time

Today, convicted murderer William “Danny” Mason returned to court, this time with a new cadre of attorneys. Mason’s high-profile kidnapping and blackmail case had ended in a mistrial and was set to be retried. This afternoon, Mason appeared virtually before Justice Nigel Pilgrim at the High Court, represented by his latest attorney, Trinidadian national Peter Taylor. Taylor, being assisted by a team including Attorneys Nehanda Samuel, Eustace Warner, and Jamie Hibberd, took over Mason’s defense. During today’s court session, Taylor informed the court that he had filed the required Case Management Conference (CMC) documents on November 8, 2024. However, due to the absence of key witness statements, he requested additional time to gather the necessary materials from his client to proceed with the case. The Crown, represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), confirmed it was preparing responses concerning four key witnesses. Taylor stated that he would need time to consult with Mason and finalize which witnesses would be called in his defense. He further explained that he had received 247 pages of transcripts from Mason’s previous trial, which would assist in preparing for the retrial. Taylor requested one more week, and the court granted until November 29, 2024, for the defense to file the CMC documents. The Crown was given until December 6, 2024, to submit its response, and the court set a CMC date for December 13, 2024. Despite attempts to schedule a trial date for early January 2025, Justice Pilgrim acknowledged the unlikeliness of that timeline, and a tentative date in early February was agreed upon for the retrial to commence.  In addition to the proceedings, Taylor raised several other issues. First, he applied for bail on behalf of Mason, citing the lengthy duration of his detention. Taylor emphasized that the alleged offense, which dates back to May 16, 2016, had not seen trial until July 2024, when the mistrial occurred. He argued that Mason is not a flight risk and should be considered for bail, particularly given the circumstances surrounding the case, his age, and the pending nature of his other legal matters. In response, Justice Pilgrim directed Taylor to submit a formal written application for bail, which will be reviewed at a later date. Additionally, Taylor inquired about the whereabouts of Mason’s cell phone, which he claimed had been in the Crown’s possession since 2016. According to Taylor, Mason believes the phone contains evidence that could potentially exonerate him. Taylor requested that the court order the Crown to return the phone. The DPP responded, denying that the Crown was in possession of the device and suggesting that Taylor file an application with the Commissioner of Police for further investigation. Mason was jointly charged with Ryan Rhaburn, who appeared in court today and was represented by attorneys Simeon Sampson and Ian Gray. Mason and Rhaburn were charged with two counts of kidnapping of Mennonite Couple, Lloyd and Rosey Friesen, on May 31, 2016.