MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Parish judge Ann-Marie Grainger today told the prosecution leading the Manchester Municipal Corporation corruption trial to remember that all final decisions rest with them.

The advice came as some members of the defense team expressed concern that there were statements just being disclosed to them today.

Grainger said that as head of the team any delays from the parties submitting evidence is also the responsibility of the prosecution to ensure that it is received in a timely manner. 

“We need that in the move for a speedy trial,” she said.

Norman Godfrey, one of the defense attorneys in the matter, in expressing dissatisfaction about the late inclusion of statements, said that it should not be allowed to continue. 

“There has to be a line drawn between investigation and prosecution. It can’t continue like this. This is happening in all levels of the court system,” he said.

Godfrey is representing accused Sanja Elliott, a former deputy superintendent of the Road and Works Department, his wife Tasha-Gay Goulbourne-Elliott and his former employee Dwayne Sibblies. 

Delford Morgan, counsel for Elliott’s parents Elwardo and Myrtle, and other members of the legal team appear to share the view.

The others accused in the case are David Harris, former acting secretary manager and director of finance of the Municipal Corporation, who is being represented by Danielle Archer; Kendale Roberts, a former temporary works overseer being represented by Samoi Campbell from Peter Champagnie’s office; and attorney Joel Nelson is representing former bank employee Radcliffe McLean. 

There are eight accused in the case, which started in 2016, after the Corporation was subject to a probe for allegations of misappropriation of funds. 

Today, an accounting clerk from the  Corporation, who has been testifying as a witness in the matter, again took the stand. 

She has been testifying since last week and her questioning is not yet complete. 

The accounting clerk is the fifth witness in the matter and there are 59 people on the witness list. 

Plans to have the trial move to the Porus Court, instead of in Mandeville where it is now taking place, are being considered.

Alicia Sutherland