Members of the public are often outraged when judges free persons accused of serious offenses on bail. However, those persons are often unaware of the reasoning behind the judges’ decision to grant bail and misunderstand the courts’ duty to uphold the Constitution, according to lawyers.
Take for instance the recent grant of bail to Valentino Dorsette, accused of the August 2009 murder of Tagia Soles-Armony.
Prosecutors fast-tracked the case to the Supreme Court to ensure a speedy trial. However, Dorsette has yet to be arraigned in the Supreme Court.
His lawyer, Ian Cargill, said the judge approved bail because Dorsette’s constitutional right to trial within a reasonable time had been breached.
According to Cargill, the judge decided to approve his release because of the delay in bringing the case to trial.
In a letter to the online site, Bahamas Press, where readers ranted vitriol over the decision, the dead woman’s father, Gordon Soles, wrote, “This was something I expected as although the accused young man was charged, he has not received a trial within a reasonable time and it would be unjust that he should remain on remand.”
Soles also commended Senior Justice Jon Isaacs’ “steadfast commitment to the ‘rule of law’ and his courage to uphold the Constitution of The Bahamas.”
