The law firm of former Attorney-General Cajeton Hood has been retained to represent embattled high court judge Justice Shawn Innocent of St Lucia who has been de-rostered in Grenada after a criminal charge was slapped on him by local police.
Hood has invited the local media to attend a press conference Friday (today) at 11.30 a.m at his office on Upper Church Street in St George in which certain details of the case might come into the public domain officially for the first time.
Most of the lawyers on the island have been tight-lipped about the circumstances in which the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Christopher Nelson gave the police the greenlight to lay the criminal charge against the judge.
THE NEW TODAY was told that a group of Grenadian defence lawyers who specialise in Criminal law and often appear before Justice Innocent have been giving moral support to the high court judge.
Defense attorney Peter David was the first lawyer who rendered assistance to the judge by securing bail for him pending the hearing of his matter before a city Magistrate.
The charge against the judge followed an incident in the south of the island in which he allegedly brandished a weapon at a civilian whose name has been given as Kellon Noel.
One senior lawyer claimed that a report appearing in another local media outlet that the judge used his licensed firearm to beat the civilian is totally untrue.
He said that Justice Innocent allegedly pulled out his firearm following a second encounter with a male working on a road project in the True Blue area.
He stated that on the first occasion the individual was using a heavy-duty piece of equipment to cut across the road and the judge was prevented from free access to use the road.
He spoke of an exchange of words between the judge and the individual on the first occasion.
However, there was another encounter on the road and the judge allegedly pulled out his gun as the man was said to be moving in his direction.
However, police insiders gave a different version based on the report made to the lawmen by Noel.
One source said the report made to the police is that the judge drew “his pistol and knocked it on the head of the Complainant (Noel)”.
Several members of the Criminal Bar reportedly met with DPP Nelson on the issue of the criminal charge slapped on Justice Innocent who is out on bail.
Speculation is rife that certain powerful legal forces outside of Grenada might have played a role in the final decision taken to press charges against Justice Innocent.
The following statement was issued by the Castries-based Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) on the Justice Innocent situation:-
“The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) has been recently made aware that Justice Shawn Innocent, a High Court Judge currently assigned to the Criminal court in Grenada, was on 28th April 2025, charged with the indictable offence of “assault with a deadly instrument,” contrary to section 176(e) of the Criminal Code of Grenada.
Following this charge, Justice Innocent was granted bail until his court appearance, where he is expected to respond to the allegations.
In light of these circumstances, Justice Innocent has been temporarily de-rostered. To minimise the disruption of proceedings in the Criminal court in Grenada, another judge has been assigned to assume Justice Innocent’s responsibilities, effective 1st June 2025.
The ECSC is approaching this matter with the utmost seriousness, being mindful of Justice Innocent’s fundamental rights under the Constitution, while reaffirming its dedication to upholding the rule of law and maintaining the integrity of the judiciary.”
Justice Innocent, who was granted bail in the sum of EC$10, 000.00 with one Suretor and no conditions attached to it, is due to make his first appearance before a City Magistrate on June 23.
