Lawyer for Matthew D. Hazell attorney at law Valerie Stephens-Gordon yesterday November 16, 2015 put the Crown on notice that if they continue not to be ready with their paper committal process then she will have no choice but to seek bail for her client who has been locked up since February this year. Photo: Facebook

Hazell leaving after one of his previous court appearances. Photo: VINO/File

Attorney at Law Valerie Stephens-Gordon. Photo: VINO/File

She was speaking before Magistrate Ayana Baptiste-DaBreo as the trial for bank robber accused Matthew D. Hazell continued.

“We are asking that the matter be adjourned sine di until the Prosecution could get its act together,” said Stephens-Gordon.

“We just want some progress in this matter…everytime we come here we hear that the Crown is not ready. If they are not ready then I will be making an application for bail,” she said.

The court announced that November 26, 2015 will be the date for the continuation of the matter.

Matthew D. Hazell, who is charged with attempted murder, was considered to be a flight risk and was denied bail when he appeared before Magistrate Ayana Baptiste-DaBreo on June 10, 2015.

During the prosecution’s presentation, it was alleged that the former employee of one of the territory’s popular banking institutions, FirstCaribbean International Bank, had access to guns and that he was under the watchful eyes/surveillance of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVPF) for some time prior to him being arrested for attempted murder.

Caught in the crossfire

In his February 26, 2015 court appearance he had proclaimed his innocence saying that he had been caught in a crossfire.

Mrs Stephens-Gordon had told the court in February that her client was proceeding to the said bank on the night of February 16, 2015 to make a withdrawal at the ATM machine. Shortly after disembarking his car he heard gunshots ringing out and he was caught in the midst of it, consequently being wounded.

She told the court then that there were others in the area at the time and, like her client, they all ran for shelter. She said that her client has advised that it was in the process of running from the sounds of gunshot that he felt himself being shot but had kept on running.