By Tahna Weston
The committal proceedings for former prison officer Dwight Peters has been adjourned to next year as the prosecution was not ready to proceed since the case file has not been completed.
Peters, who has been charged with murder, appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Dexter Wason in St John’s Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
When the 36-year-old Ovals resident last appeared in court he was remanded to His Majesty’s Prison because magistrates cannot grant bail for a capital offence.
However, Peters, through his attorney Wayne Benjamin Marsh, was able to obtain bail in the High Court days later-on September 25.
He is now out on $80,000 bail. Reportedly there was no cash deposit required, but the court requested that two sureties sign on his behalf.
Additionally, Peters, who was initially detained by the police while attempting to leave the country for a sporting event, had to surrender his travel documents. He was reportedly also advised that he cannot leave the country without written permission.
The Ovals man has to report to the St John’s Police Station three days each week and he was warned not to interfere with any of the prosecution’s witnesses directly or indirectly.
Marsh had made initial arguments pertaining to the safety of the former prison officer and had asked for him not to be housed in 1735.
Marsh told the court that the prison was accommodating and took care of his client.
Peters is accused of causing the death of 26-year-old inmate Ricknaldo Isaac of Bendals. It is alleged that there was an altercation at the prison in late April, which left Isaac paralysed from the waist down.
Isaac, who also suffered from epilepsy, died in May due to complications from his injuries while awaiting surgery at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre.
Peters’ arrest and subsequent remand had sparked outrage among his colleague prison officers, who had initiated a go-slow at His Majesty’s Prison, citing that the incident was unfortunate Isaac “was not a model prisoner”.
The new committal date is February 27 next year.
Peters served as a prison officer for almost a decade before being transferred shortly after the incident.
