DPP Responds To Queries About Case Against Prominent Attorney
The Office charged with the prosecution of criminal offences has given an update on the progress of its case against Attorney at Law David Brandt who was slapped with several sexual offences against minors three years ago.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions released a statement on the matter Tuesday afternoon after it received a number of enquiries about the case.
The DPP’s office says it specifically received questions as to why there had not been a trial to date, although it is widely known that Mr. Brandt was arrested and charged in 2015.
The DPP Orris Sullivan has therefore sought to summarize the stages and decisions in the case which he says are now in the public domain.
According to the DPP, the prosecution served its case papers upon the defence in December 2016.
The lawyers representing Mr. Brandt raised objection to the charges stating that they were fundamentally flawed and that the magistrate should dismiss those charges.
This legal challenge to the prosecution charges was referred to the Court of Appeal in 2017.
The court of appeal then rejected Mr. Brandt’s challenge and dismissed that appeal.
Attorney At Law David S Brandt was arrested and charged with several sexual related offences against minors in 2015
The DPP says there was a delay of some 4 months from the hearing of this appeal to the decision given by the Court.
The case then proceeded to a hearing in front of Justice Belle in January 2018 to deal with the issue of Suffiency of evidence another defence challenge that the charges amounted to a breach of Mr. Brandt's constitutional rights.
Mr. Justice Belle ruled against the defence’s challenge.
This constitutional challenge, the office says, is now under appeal to the court of appeal and awaiting a hearing date.
The DPP says it is important for the public to know that the defendant is entitled to appeal any ruling at all stages leading up to trial.
He says it is a matter for the appeal’s court to decide whether there is any merit in any of the appeal points taken by the defence.