Nearly Five Years, Jackson Jean Baptiste Firearm and Ammunition trial gets 2024 date

By Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Reporter

#TurksandCaicos, July 31, 2023 – On Monday July 24th, 2023, JACKSON JEAN BAPTISTE was schedule to commence a Jury firearm and ammunition trial in the Providenciales’ Supreme Court.

The allegations date back to an alleged aggressive body slamming takedown by Grand Turk police on July 6, 2019. Portions of the arrest were recorded and shared in a video on social media in particular WhatsApp.

The accused was on July 8, 2019, initially taken to the court in Grand Turk where he was remanded to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for a sufficiency hearing date of 06th September, 2019.

He was represented by Mr. Noel Skippings at the time. He was sometime later granted bail and one of the conditions of bail was that, he has to remain and reside in Providenciales until the case is over.

Baptiste was arrested at age 27 and is now 32 years old.

Magnetic Media reported on this matter last month but it now appears all outstanding defense disclosure materials are furnished and the trial can proceed.

The matter was called for mention on Friday July 21, 2023 and Monday’s trial date of July 24, 2023 was vacated and the case was adjourned to a new trial date of April 29, 2024.

The defendant bail’s was extended to that date and he is represented by Ms. Sheena Mair of F-Chambers.  The Prosecution is represented by Mrs. Nayasha Hatmin.

When or if this matter is actually tried in April 2024, it will be three months shy of five years since the suspect was arrested.

Both the Prosecution and Defense stand ready to proceed in the matter, however, the court cannot accommodate the trial until in 2024 April.