Defense Attorneys Slam Police Commissioner for Remarks on Court Ruling in Assault Case

Remarks by the Police Commissioner Chester Williams have come under scrutiny by the Association of Defence Attorneys (ADA).  Late this evening, the association issued a release stating that Williams’ comments border on contempt and that he should cease and desist from such.  The comments have to do with this week’s decision by the Chief Magistrate that saw Jaron McKay fined instead of imprisoned for assaulting Williams.  The commissioner did not shy away from interviews this week, and had expressed disappointment in the court ruling, referring to it as a slap on the wrist when compared to the five month sentence given to Inspector Christopher Martinez who had assaulted a detainee inside a police cell.  According to the commissioner, the judge’s ruling has sent a wrong message to the public.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “You’re saying to the public, the criminals per se, beat the police we will charge you a little money and send you home but if the police touch you we will send the police to jail. It’s like a double standard, we can’t have that.”

Ernesto Vasquez, Host, The Morning Show: Were these different magistrates ? 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “Same magistrate. It was the same magistrate who tried Martinez and who dealt with this matter so you can’t say it’s different,…. It’s the same magistrate dealt with both cases. The thing is that he said to the court that he did not know I was the Commissioner. It does not matter whether I’m the commissioner or not I was in my police uniform so he knew I was a police, that is what was important.’

Ernesto Vasquez, Host, The Morning Show: I understood that you were not in…..
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police:“I was in the professional police BDU. I was leading the parade as I normally do in my uniform so I was not out there celebrating. If I am not working at these things Ernesto you will not see me there. I don’t go out in public like that, I don’t. So I was there performing my duties.”

The Association of Defence Attorneys added that as a public officer and the Head of a Government department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, it is not open to him to make any adverse pronouncement against the integrity of the Courts.  The statement concluded with, quote, “his public statements border on contempt and must cease and desist from such behavior and be guided by the rule of law and the legal decisions of the judiciary of our nation.” End of quote.