After serving as prime minister for almost a quarter of a century, during which he had to hang up his robe, Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves is expected to return to court as a defence counsel on Monday.
He is expected to appear before the Serious Offences Court to represent his 16-year-old constituent, Antonia Thomas, of Colonarie, who is charged with attempted murder.
Police are alleging that Thomas attempted to murder 65-year-old Winston McMillan during an altercation on Thursday.
McMillan was reportedly struck in the head and is said to be in hospital with his condition listed as brain-dead.
Brain death occurs when a person no longer has any brain functions and the signs of life, such as breathing and a heartbeat, are a result of machines.
A person who is brain dead will not regain consciousness or be able to breathe without support.
In many jurisdictions, a person who is brain dead is legally confirmed as dead.
Gonsalves shelved his law practice just at the turn of the century and can practise law again after he was sent into opposition after his Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) defeat at the polls on Nov. 27.
He was the only member of the party to retain a seat when the New Democratic Party surged to victory, winning 14 of the 15 parliamentary seats, after almost 25 years in opposition.
After the defeat, Gonsavles, who turns 80 in August, announced that he has paid the requisite fees to allow him to practice law again should one of his constituents need his services.
If the arraignment takes place at the Serious Offences Court, which generally deals with the preliminary inquiry in attempted murder cases, Gonsalves would appear before Chief Magistrate Colin John, who was one of the commissioners of police during Gonsalves’ time as prime minister.
Before serving as Prime Minister, Gonsalves represented clients across the Caribbean.
In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, he represented Jim and Penny Fletcher, the US couple who were found not guilty, in August 1997, of the murder of Vincentian water taxi operator, Jerome “Jolly” Joseph, 30, who was shot and killed in Bequia in October 1996.
