Constitutional Challenge Halts Ambassador Rosado’s Criminal Trial
A missing lead attorney, a dismissed lawyer and an urgent constitutional challenge have once again brought the high-profile criminal trial of Ambassador Alexis Roberto Rosado to a standstill. Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay has now entered the case, arguing that Rosado’s right to a fair trial was threatened when lead counsel Richard “Dickie” Bradley failed to appear in court. The dramatic turn came shortly after Rosado dismissed attorney Leeroy Banner earlier this week and asked the Belmopan High Court for time to find new representation. Courtenay says Rosado had no advance warning that Bradley would be absent when the trial resumed. Although Rosado requested an adjournment, the court initially denied it. Courtenay is now seeking constitutional protection, insisting that no accused person should be forced to face trial without adequate legal representation.
Eamon Courtenay
Eamon Courtenay, SC
“He was not aware that his counsel was not going to turn up, his lead counsel, and so he asked for an adjournment which was refused. The constitution guarantees to him, like everyone else, a fair trial and if your lead attorney, on the day of trial, doesn’t turn up, you are entitled to ask the court for an adjournment to find counsel. The trial proceeded without his lead counsel and without him getting an opportunity to get lead counsel and in those circumstances he contacted me, told me what was happening and so we filed urgent constitutional relief here, asking this court to stop the trial in Belmopan to allow him the opportunity to find counsel. Yesterday, Mr. Banner, who was appearing for him, sought an adjournment because we have this matter to be heard in the High Court here. My understanding is that the prosecution resisted strongly even an adjournment for his constitutional claim, an application to be heard. Eventually, the trial judge relented and has adjourned it until the sixteenth of October to give him time to find a lead counsel. So, I believe he will, this week or just over a week, be seeking to find a lead counsel to represent him, and I suspect, along with Mr. Banner, but I was just involved in the constitutional matter to protect his right.”
Rosado, fifty-six, is facing three indictments stemming from allegations made by a woman who claims she was sexually abused over a period of years beginning when she was a minor. He denies any wrongdoing and remains innocent unless proven guilty. But his senior role representing Belize before the International Court of Justice has thrust the case into the national spotlight.
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